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fiskern
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Security

I love the PAM. I have used U3 for some time, but have switched to PAM and I'm using it for several hours a day. I'm in love!

It is only one thing I'm missing; I like the security on my U3 stick. If the PAM could be password protected it would be nice. If someone stole my memory stick I would like to know that they have trouble getting any information out of it.

Would this be possible to fulfill?

John T. Haller
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Joined: 2005-11-28 22:21
Yes and No

Security on removable drives is a funny thing. The problem with all of the "password protection" options I've seen is that they can be bypassed. The only way to really secure data is to encrypt it.

Now, you could use TrueCrypt to encrypt your whole drive, but then you could only use it on XP/2000 machines when logged in as an admin. Or you could buy something like the Kingston DataTraveler Secure which has whole-drive encryption that doesn't require admin privs.

Personally, I set Firefox and Thunderbird to use a master password, which encrypts all your logins and passwords within them. Then use a secure password management program for your passwords (Keepass, SignupShield, Roboform2Go, etc). As for documents, you can password-protect them individually (OpenOffice.org encrypts the file with the password you choose). Or you can zip up and encrypt an individual folder with something like 7-Zip Portable when you're moving between locations.

A more-integrated set of securing specific files and an option to "password protect" the menu with an obscurity-style security is being looked at.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

fiskern
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Last seen: 16 years 6 months ago
Joined: 2006-12-05 14:17
Re: Yes and No

Thank you for your answer John.

I know it could be bypassed, but 98 out of 100 who might find my removable drive doesn't know how to do it. I use my removable drive everyday at work to be online on my private email. When I'm a short time out of the office I lock my computer but leave my drive. If someone pick up the drive I would like to know that they will have "some problem" getting access to it.

Thank you for excellent software. Keep up the good work Smile

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