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Locking down my Portable Apps USB stick

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AnthonyB
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Locking down my Portable Apps USB stick

IIRC, when I tried Portable Apps years ago, there was a way to lock down access to what I have on my USB stick so if I lost it and someone plugged it into their computer, they couldn't easily become me, already logged in to a half-dozen websites as stored on the USB stick.

I couldn't find it with the current release, maybe it's not there, maybe I don't recall it correctly.
Do I need to use a password protected / encrypted USB stick? or is the functionality still in the Portable Apps software?

John T. Haller
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Defeatable

I've debated adding a lock/hide password function to the platform. But it would have to be well explained because it's just security by obscurity. You can use an encrypted virtual drive on a regular USB drive but you need admin rights everywhere. The only way for full security everywhere without needing admin rights is a hardware encrypted drive.

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

AnthonyB
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LIke this?

LIke this?
I see several USB sticks with keypads.
https://amzn.to/3pTGYNc

I think a determined thief will get through most anything.
So My thought is something that makes it not so easily usable to the casual user-
I fond this , what is it, ooooh, look at that, I can post, and buy stuff, and etc, etc...
or.
hmm, clicking on these things doesn't do anything. Ah well. I'll just turn it in at the hotel lost and found.

gmbudwrench
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I have

A newer Apricorn Securekey drive similar to what you posted. According to the specs, it’s supposed to be resistant to a brute force attack. It is equipped so that after the 10th wrong keypad entry, the key file is rendered useless and the data is wiped from the device.

gmbudwrench
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Here

https://apricorn.com/flash-keys/

Note, they are a bit pricey but they can be found for a decent price if you don’t mind an open box or without a box, as mine was.

AnthonyB
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Thanks!

Thanks!

AnthonyB
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So many choices

I see several, including this Lexar fingerprint version- my only concern is that it requires a software to register the fingerprints and I would _assume_ that the fingerprint registration resides on the stick in hardware, so you can open it on a PC that you haven't installed the Lexar software on, but we don't know for sure. ?

https://amzn.to/2UajyYj

gmbudwrench
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The Apricorn

requires no software. You punch in your secret code, that unlocks the drive and then you plug it in. If you don't unlock it, when you plug it in, all it does is sit lifeless in your usb port. Your computer doesn't even see it until it's unlocked.

AnthonyB
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They don't show any power, so

They don't show any power, so wouldn't you have to lug it in first, so it has power to register the keypad and power the little CPU?

Same with the fingerprint version, and Lexar is a good brand AFAIK.

John T. Haller
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Battery

The Apricorn ones have a small built-in battery so you can enter your code before inserting it, at least if they're the same as the USB2 versions. The same company makes them that made our old PA.c Carbide drives.

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

gmbudwrench
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Yes.

@John, I bought one of the PA.c branded ones you offered years ago and liked it so well that I updated to the USB 3 version. I still have and use the one I got from here.

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