How to put a password on a folder, file or USB flash drive. Password everything! How to put a password on a USB flash drive: the simplest solutions USB flash drives with the ability to set a password

The use of flash media for storing information is gaining more and more popularity, because they have a number of indisputable advantages over outdated CDs and DVDs. The flash drive does not take up much space, is convenient to use and has a fairly large amount of memory. That is why the question: how to put a password on a USB flash drive is relevant today. After all, it can store personal data, important documents and, in general, any other information that you would not want to show to other people.

In this article I will tell you how to put a password on a USB flash drive using the built-in BitLocker software, or using the free USB Safeguard software.

BitLocker

You can set a password on a USB flash drive using built-in Windows tools. BitLocker is used for this. We go to the "My Computer" folder and right-click on the USB flash drive, on which we will set the password. Now in the context menu, select the item Turn on BitLocker.

If you did not find this item in the context menu, it does not matter. We go "Start" - "Control Panel".

In the upper right corner, select "View" - "Category". Then follow the link "System and safety".

In the next list, select the item BitLocker Drive Encryption.

Select the disk partition that corresponds to the flash drive, I have it (G :), and click on the button opposite it Turn on BitLocker.

In the window that opens, put a tick opposite the item "Use password to unlock disk lock"... Next, enter the invented password, the length of which must be at least 8 characters, otherwise the program will not let you go any further, and click "Next".

In the next window, the program offers to save the key for disk recovery, in case you forget your password. Choose an item "Save recovery key in file" and choose a place on the computer where it will be stored. It is better to have it in the folder where people visit least often. Click "Next".

Do not remove the USB flash drive during encryption. My 1GB stick was half full and it took 3 minutes to encrypt. Therefore, if the volume of your flash drive is larger, be prepared that the process will take a little time.

Now, the USB stick is password protected. Each time you turn it on to the computer, a golden lock will be displayed next to the disk. We open the USB flash drive and see that the BitLocker program asks for a password. We enter it and click "Unblock"... When the flash drive is unlocked, a silver lock will appear in the My Computer folder next to it.

If you want to delete or change the password on the USB flash drive, right-click on it and in the context menu select BitLocker Management... The following window appears in which you can perform several necessary actions.

USB Safeguard

USB Safeguard allows you to set a password on a flash drive. Its clear functionality is suitable for both advanced and novice users. You can download USB Safeguard from the official website: http://www.usbsafeguard.com/download.html. You will be offered two versions for download. The first is free, suitable for those who have a flash drive up to 2 GB. The second one is paid, allows you to set a password on a flash drive, the volume of which does not exceed 16 terabytes.

I will install the first - free - version. I press the button "Download now" and save the installation file.

Now we copy the downloaded installation file to the root of the flash drive and run it from the flash drive. Installation of the program is carried out as usual: we press “Next”, then “Finish”. Considering that most flash drives are in FAT format, during the installation process the program will offer to format it in NTFS - we agree. Please note that when formatting, all files from the flash drive will be deleted, so it is better to copy everything to your computer in advance.

In the next window, you need to enter the password for the flash drive. We come up with it, enter it, confirm, in the last field you can enter a hint, you will see it if you forget your password. Click "OK".

Now we remove the USB flash drive and insert it back into the computer. Open it and run the "USBSafeguard" file.

That is, the program creates another protected virtual disk Z: on the USB flash drive. The volume of this disk is the same as the size of the flash drive. When writing a file to the Z: drive, the space on the flash drive will also decrease.

Files that you do not want to protect access to, just copy directly to the USB flash drive: in my case, this is the G: drive. If you want the file to be protected, copy it to the Z: drive.

Thus, when you connect a flash drive to a computer, you will get access to open files on it. But, to open password-protected files, you will need to launch the USBSafeguard program and enter the password. Only then will you have access to the protected disk Z :.

Now you can put a password on the USB flash drive. Just choose one of the described methods and I'm sure everything will work out and your personal files and documents will be protected.

Watch the related video:

Rate article:

How to put a password on a USB flash drive - the most reliable ways in this article! Although a large number of people prefer to store confidential data on a USB flash drive and carry it with them. And if she gets lost, or worse, is she kidnapped? Information that falls into the wrong hands can cause a lot of trouble. Take care of how to put a password on a USB flash drive, storing something really important on it.

What is the most effective way to protect data on a flash drive

The most reliable way to store really important information is to keep it under the supervision of an armed guard deep underground. And in the case of an electronic storage device, it must also be disconnected from the network (Internet). The method is exaggerated, but this is not a joke. However, the real world and the constant need to have access to the right data does not allow such methods to be used. For this reason, various methods have been developed to restrict access to information.

The most widespread is encryption, because with the right approach, encryption does not allow an attacker or a random person to gain access to the data. Encryption tools using modern long-key algorithms provide effective protection when the user uses a complex password. The use of such protection will be discussed.

How to put a password on a USB flash drive without additional programs

The question of how to password-protect a USB flash drive without using special programs is quite relevant. It happens when at the right time there is simply no opportunity to use the special. software. There are two possible options.

First way. You initially took care of purchasing a flash drive with hardware encryption. For such devices, third-party software is not required; when connecting to a USB port, you need to enter the pin code on the keyboard located on the body of the flash drive itself. Disconnecting from the port will result in automatic blocking. It is important to remember that multiple incorrect password entry will end up permanently blocking all stored information. Toshiba Encrypted USB Flash Drive is one of the representatives of this class of devices.

Second way. Using improvised means.

Timely concern about protecting data on your phone's flash drive can return a hundredfold, since users always trust confidential data to devices that they carry with them (which are phones). Full encryption of the phone's memory is standard for Android versions above 4.0, and for an external memory card - starting with version 4.1.1, but inexpensive models may not have such information protection.

If you have a phone of a non-budget class, you can enable encryption in the settings, section "Security", for which the screen lock with a password must be active, otherwise encryption will not be available. Starting with the sixth version of Android, this option will be enabled initially, which, by the way, has already been implemented in iOS (iPhone).

If standard tools are not available, Google Play search will offer a good selection of data protection programs. Good reviews have "SSE encryption", which, among other things, has additional features such as a text encryptor and password manager. After installation, you will see an intuitive interface prompting you to select the data to be protected.

The situation is somewhat simpler with old Symbian phones. In Nokia (with phones from other manufacturers it is the same), go through the items "Menu" - "Settings" - "Security" - "Security level", where select the desired option.

How to password protect a USB flash drive using programs

This is not to say that the choice of software for data protection is scarce. In addition to independent development, every decent flash drive manufacturer offers its own solution. The general principle of tuning is present, if not in all, then in most of these utilities. Let's look at how to set a password on a USB flash drive using a program example.

1. Download from the manufacturer's website and install the program.
2. Connect the USB flash drive to your computer.
3. Run the program, select "Encrypt USB Disk".
4. Come up with a good password and enter it in the appropriate fields.
5. In the "Disk parameters" section, specify the required size of the protected partition. The peculiarity of the program is such that it does not encrypt all data, but creates a special section for this purpose.
6. After the inputs are set, you can click "Create Disc".

Now all data will be reliably protected and hidden from view. You can access them through the main menu of the program or using an executable file created on an unprotected partition (Rohosmini.exe).

The best programs for password protection of flash memory cards

Not all specialized programs are good for data protection. Some have clear flaws in stability or reliability. Below will be indicated and briefly considered four programs that have already managed to recommend themselves on the positive side.

A USB flash drive is a data storage device that connects via a special interface. You can transfer and save any information on a USB flash drive and in different quantities. Users on flash drives store photos and videos, important documents and software, OS installation files and passwords, etc. Sometimes very important information is stored in a small memory device. A flash drive can be dropped from a pocket, it can simply be stolen. And then the personal information stored on this device will be available to strangers. To protect yourself from such common cases, it is important to protect the data on the storage device.

Setting access to information by password

You can set passwords on flash drives in two ways.

1. This can be done using BitLocker Drive Encryption. This is the name of the technology that allows you to encrypt OS data. This program is preinstalled in newer versions of Windows ("seven" and "eight"). But the peculiarity of the technology is that it encrypts information on the entire disk, and not on a separate element of the file system. You can also protect the information on the flash drive.
2. You can protect user data by using applications that need to be downloaded to your computer. There are plenty of these special tools and we will provide a choice of three most convenient utilities. The functionality of these applications will help protect with a password not only the entire USB flash drive, but also individual information on it (file, folder).

Protecting a USB flash drive in Windows

If you are running Windows 8 or higher, BitLocker is preinstalled. To protect important information on a USB flash drive or the entire drive, you need to follow eight steps.

So, how to encrypt USB drive data, step by step guide:

Free software for data protection

We will now introduce three free utilities.

TrueCrypt

This utility is free and in demand among users, but difficult to master. But if you are looking for a reliable tool with which you can password protect individual elements and the entire drive, learn how it works.

Rohos Mini Drive

This utility has two versions - free and professional. The first version is easy to use, reliable, but allows you to screw up a small flash drive. For home users who store personal information on storage devices, it is quite enough.

MyFolder

This utility has a simple user interface, can password-protect individual elements, works quickly, but encrypts less securely. The algorithm used by the utility is inferior to the others presented above.

Setting a password for a separate folder

Sometimes it is necessary to encrypt not the entire USB drive, but only a separate part of the information, for example, the one that is stored in a specific folder. This will not be difficult if you use a special utility. We chose Anvide Lock Folder from a huge amount of software.

Download Anvide Lock Folder and launch it right away. All interface elements are understandable even to an unprepared user. After launching the utility is ready to work. Select an individual item on the drive or PC and click on the corresponding lock icon. It remains only to type the password. Now, if you need to view the contents of the password-protected folder, run the utility. For greater reliability, you can create a complex password for the utility itself.

Setting a password on a USB flash drive without a program

Different models of USB flash drives provide data protection using hardware methods. However, this protection requires prior activation when you first start using your storage device. Then you need to come up with a password for the USB drive. The more complex the password, the more secure it is. Therefore, it is recommended to mix letters with numbers and add special characters to them.

Removable USB drives have become one of the most common storage devices today. It is not surprising, because ordinary flash drives have a fairly large memory and small dimensions. But sometimes it is required to make the information on the flash drive inaccessible to other users. Now let's get down to the question of how to put a password on a USB flash drive.

Data encryption principles

In general, today in the world there are many different data encryption systems. With regard to conventional USB-drives, programs mainly use the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) symmetric encryption method with support for 128-bit, 192-bit and 256-bit keys.

When considering the processes of data encryption and password creation, we will proceed from the fact that the tools below work with 256-bit AES keys.

How to put a password on a USB flash drive using Windows

If anyone does not know: Windows has its own tools for encrypting data, for example, located on a regular USB flash drive. At least in all versions of Windows 7, this feature is present. The solution to the problem of how to set a password on a USB flash drive will be to use a built-in tool called BitLocker. There is nothing complicated in this process.

First, you need to connect a USB drive to a computer terminal or laptop through the appropriate port. In the explorer, use the right click on the flash drive letter, and then from the context menu select the line "Start BitLocker" (if any). If this line is not in the menu, you will have to forget about encryption by the standard method. As a last resort, you can download this utility from the Internet. But we will proceed from the fact that it is already installed and is on the list.

After calling the utility in a new window, we use the item "Use password to unlock the disk", after which you need to enter the invented password in one field, and confirm it in the second. Immediately, we note that the password must be at least eight characters long. Naturally, it is advisable not to use the simplest combinations like "12345678", but to create something more convincing. In this case, you can use uppercase letters, symbols, and numbers. This will only be a plus, since passwords of this type are much more difficult to guess.

Next, the program will offer to create and then save the password recovery key either in a file or print it. This is at the discretion of the user. When saving to a file, you will need to select the location of its future location. A confirmation window will then appear.

Now for one of the most important points. You will need to choose which area of \u200b\u200bthe disk to encrypt. This can be encryption of either only the occupied disk space, or the entire flash drive. Now all that remains is to start the encryption process and wait for it to finish, that's all.

Now, when you try to access your USB drive, a window will appear asking you to enter a password. As you can see, the question of how to put a password on a USB flash drive in a standard way is very simple to solve.

USB Safe Guard

BitLocker is considered imperfect by many users and encryption professionals. So let's see what another USB flash drive password program is capable of, called USB Safe Guard.

First of all, I would like to note that this application is designed for an inexperienced user, so it will be quite simple to work with it. The only bad thing is that the free version only works with flash drives up to 2 GB.

So, when solving the problem of how to set a password on a USB flash drive using this utility, you need to start with the fact that you need to run it from a USB drive. At startup, the user will be prompted to create a key, then select files and folders to be encrypted (this is done by simply dragging and dropping data into the program window using the mouse). Now it remains to press the "Lock" button. Then there will be a proposal to delete the original data either completely without the possibility of recovery, or using the DoD 5220-22M standard. To restore information from an encrypted form, you will accordingly need to enter your key. By the way, a micro-flash drive is also suitable here. The password is created in a similar way.

Rohos Mini Drive

Finally, we will consider a solution to the problem, how to put a password on a USB flash drive with the Rohos Mini Drive application. To begin with, select the "Encrypt disk" menu (create a protected partition on a USB-drive). The advantage here is that the application automatically selects the desired device. Now enter the password and click "Create Disk".

Upon completion of the process, you need to right-click on the program icon in the system tray to open the menu and select the line "Enable R:". Now, to work with the section, you will need to enter a password, after which you can add new files. Again, at the end of the work, you will have to use the "Turn off R:" command. That's all.

Conclusion

So, we looked at the simplest techniques to quickly create a password for a USB drive and encrypt data. Which of these to use, everyone decides for himself. It seems that, in principle, all methods are good, although programs of this kind can be found not only in a lot, but in a lot.

Many of us have had to store our family photos and other valuable files on a USB flash drive. Such incidents often happen when the carrier is lost and falls into the wrong hands. Therefore, in order to protect their data from prying eyes, each user just needs to know how to put a password on a USB flash drive.

There are at least three ways to protect information on a flash drive:

1. Standard operating system tools.
2. Using third-party applications (utilities).
3. The hardware of the device itself.

Let's take a closer look at each of the methods.

Standard OS tools

Of the standard tools in practice, only two simple proven methods of protecting data on a flash drive are most often used.

1. Password-protected archive
2. BitLocker Utility

Password-protected archive

If the data on the flash drive does not have a large volume, then it is quite possible to protect it with a password, having previously archived it. The standard WinRAR archiver is perfect for this.

Having chosen a folder for packing, we carry out the archiving process. After completing the process, you need to go to the menu by tabs: Advanced - Set password.

When the password is entered and the corresponding mark is set, it remains only to click on the OK button.

Please note that you can set a password for the winrar archive only during the archiving process. That is, it is not possible to put a password on the finished archive.

You can find more detailed information on the procedure for setting a password on our website in the article:

With BitLocker Windows

BitLocker Windows has been an integral part of the Windows operating system since the Seven. BitLocker is built into the Ultimate and Enterprise editions, as well as Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, 8.1, and Windows 10. Unfortunately, BitLocker is not available on home editions of Windows.

After making sure that BitLocker is on your system, it will be very simple to put a password on a USB flash drive:

• It is enough to right-click on it and select the item in the context menu that appears Turn on BitLocker.

• Next, check the box next to "Use password to unlock disk" and enter the password twice.

Please note that the password must be at least 8 characters long

• Next, you need to save to a file or print the recovery key, which you will need if you decide to change your password.

• After saving the key, you can click "Next" and proceed with encryption.

• Click "Start encryption" and wait for the operation to complete.

If you want to pause the process, you can use the "Pause" button.

This completes the process of setting a password on a USB flash drive. Now, when you insert the USB flash drive into the device, you will be prompted to enter a password to unlock.

Third party applications

The programmers have released many different programs that allow you to organize high-quality data protection on flash drives. Here are just a few of them:

Rohos Mini Drive

With this compact and free utility, you can effectively password-protect a specific partition on your drive. Alas, it is impossible to "lock" the drive entirely with its help. A feature of this utility is that it creates a special section on the USB flash drive, where it writes protected data. The free version of Rohos Mini Drive can handle 8 gigabytes of data.

• After starting the program, click "Encrypt USB Disk"

• Rohos Mini Drive independently identifies the USB flash drive. Select an item: "Disk options".

• Next, set the size and letter of the drive. It is better to choose a file system like a flash drive. Press OK to confirm the selected parameters.

• At this point, enter your password twice and click Create Disk.

• Now a password-protected sector will appear on your flash drive. To gain access to this sector, you need to run one of the files: run the file "Rohos mini.exe",if the utility is installed on this computer, or "Rohos Disk Portable.exe"if this utility is not on the computer.

• After starting the program, you just need to enter the password and click "OK".

• The protected drive appears in the list of hard drives. You can transfer your most valuable data to it.

To hide our secret disk (in our example, drive R), find the Rohos program icon in the tray, right-click on it and turn off the disk.

To be on the safe side in case you forget your password, we recommend creating a password reset file. To do this, you need to do the following:

• Open the Rohos drive, and select "Create a backup".

• Select item "Password reset file".

• Next, in the window that opens, enter the password that you created when creating the disc, click "Create file" and choose a location to save it on your computer.

USB Flash Security

Another free program, easy to learn, with a minimum amount of settings. Nevertheless, it allows you to effectively protect data on a USB flash drive through a password.

To download this utility, go to the site: and download the program by clicking on the button: "Download Free edition (up to 4GB, v4.1.13.19)"

After starting the program itself will determine the capacity of the flash drive, its size and file system. You just have to click on the button "Install"

Next, a warning will appear that during the operation on the flash drive, all data will be destroyed, so transfer it to your computer in advance. Of course, this will create certain inconveniences when working with a flash drive, but this is the peculiarity of this program.

A window will appear again warning that the disk will be formatted and all data will be deleted. You need to check the box and press the button "Begin the installation".

Now your flash drive will be displayed in the section: "Devices with removable media"

Opening the USB flash drive, you will find the "UsbEnter.exe" file that you need to run.

In the window that appears, enter the password and click "OK".

Now your flash drive has acquired the status of secret, and you can drop the corresponding files on it.

Hardware protection

There are flash drive models that come with their own password encryption devices. Control keys are located directly on the case of such devices, with which you can set the desired password.

The cost of such devices is, of course, quite high. But sometimes the value of data significantly exceeds the cost of the drive on which it is recorded. Depending on the drive model and settings, data may be immediately erased through formatting when an attempt is made to gain unauthorized access to it.

Summary

What conclusion did I come to after testing all of the above methods of setting a password on a USB flash drive. Of the utilities, in my opinion, Rohos Mini Drive performed better. Reliable program. The distribution kit can be easily downloaded from the developer's website. Suitable for all versions of Windows, including home. If you suddenly decide not to use Rohos Mini Drive anymore, the system will let you safely remove it.

In this review, I would like to consider another, once very popular TrueCrypt disk encryption program. Unfortunately, the creators of the program announced in May 2014 that they could not guarantee security when using the application and recommended switching to BitLocker.

Therefore, based on the above, a simple conclusion suggests itself. We use the Rohos Mini Drive utility if you have a home version of windows or BitLocker if your computer has a more advanced system and you don’t want to bother installing additional utilities.