Protecting a USB Key from Viruses, Etc

[tf76]

Stop virus getting onto USB drive

I read on a site sometime ago that all you have to do is create a folder called autorun.inf and create a text file in the folder named something.txt and then just right click both folder and text file and give them read only attributes.

 

[Nakin]

I've tried something on an usb key without a protection switch:
Format your key in NTFS mode, once it's done, right click on it, select properties, then go in the security tab. Now, just choose the rights given (like unchecking the "write"' box). Your key is write protected:
You can test on another computer, and another OS, the rights will remain the same.

 

[Puff]

I use a USB write blocker. Works great with hard drives/flash drives.

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/USB-WriteBlocker.php

 

[jmanibusan]

do you have a spare SD card with a USB thumb drive reader? take a look on the side of your SD card it might have a little switch to move it write protect.

 

[Peaceful]

I use a USB write blocker. Works great with hard drives/flash drives.

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/USB-WriteBlocker.php

199 smackaroons!!!

 

[Bobbing]

The one hassle I have found is that with the USB drive write protected, programs will throw errors. I have to copy the program to the infected computer and run it from there. I find it much easier to run it from CD/DVD-RW media.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

I have about 7 or 8 USB flash drives and once one has been in a machine, then it gets formatted and my toolkit copied across to it - one box of clean flash drives and one box of potentially dirty ones plus a couple of clean ones always in my pocket ready for action

 

[PcTek9]

Puff, you should post that device for bryce to use in tools of the week. B/c so many people ask about that device. This is the first time I have ever seen or heard of this device.

I like it a lot. I clicked the little scale on the upper right of your post and gave you credits for that post, b/c i like it that much.

 

[HubCityPC]

I use a USB write blocker. Works great with hard drives/flash drives.

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/USB-WriteBlocker.php

I like this device but , at $199 it's a little pricey!

Kevin

 

[Corbin]

I use a USB write blocker. Works great with hard drives/flash drives.

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/USB-WriteBlocker.php

Awesome, a bit pricey, I'm sure I can take my piggy bank in and get one of these.

 

[Skyhooker]

I have about 7 or 8 USB flash drives and once one has been in a machine, then it gets formatted and my toolkit copied across to it - one box of clean flash drives and one box of potentially dirty ones plus a couple of clean ones always in my pocket ready for action

Not a bad idea at all. Do you format them on a Windows machine with USB autorun disabled, or on a non-Windows machine?

 

[Puff]

do you have a spare SD card with a USB thumb drive reader? take a look on the side of your SD card it might have a little switch to move it write protect.

That's what I use to do until one day I noticed by accident (forgot to unlock the card when adding software) that even though the Transcend SDHC card I was using was locked, I could still write to it.

For that reason, I personally will not trust the write protection on SD cards.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Not a bad idea at all. Do you format them on a Windows machine with USB autorun disabled, or on a non-Windows machine?

yup on XP with AutoRun disabled and now my new Win7 machine

mind you my toolkit directory has an empty autorun.inf folder on it - fooled me the first few times that I thought it was infected!

 

[Skyhooker]

That's what I use to do until one day I noticed by accident (forgot to unlock the card when adding software) that even though the Transcend SDHC card I was using was locked, I could still write to it.

For that reason, I personally will not trust the write protection on SD cards.

From what I've gathered, it's not the card itself but the card reader that bypasses or doesn't respect the write protect switch on the card. Apparently, most do not. Someone else here mentioned this pocket card reader:

Kingston FCR-MLG2 MobileLite G2 USB 2.0 Multi-card Reader


as a good one that does not bypass write-protect, but I haven't been near the TD warehouse lately to pick one up.

 

[Vicenarian]

I own a Kanguru Flashblu II 4 GB, and it's fantastic. Seems very sturdy. Very good read/write speeds too. Bought it for like $40.00 off onhop.ca or something. Ncix has it too, but was backordered when I checked.

Seriously, this is the answer to all your problems. It's cheap, reliable, and looks cool too

Plus, Kanguru even offers branding

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Anyone got a supplier for the Kanguru's in the UK?

 

[Vicenarian]

Might be able to find one here: https://www.kanguru.com/index.php/resellers

 

[PR Tech]

Sold Vicenarian. Just bought a Kanguru 4GB on eBay for a little over $20.00.

 

[exo]

Hi, found an up to date article about write protected USB drives here:

http://www.fencepost.net/2010/03/usb-flash-drives-with-hardware-write-protection/

Peeps using SD Cards may stop after reading it...

Anyone got a supplier for the Kanguru's in the UK?

I've not used them but limitedgoods.com supply Kanguru drives:
http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=655740

Comet for the PQI's:
http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/category/2358/USB-Sticks/n/1002358+4294962899

Don't make the same mistake as me and order 3 Easy Disk flash drives from amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easydisk-4GB-USB-Flash-Drive/dp/B000MLPTH6/ref=pd_bxgy_ce_text_c

A customer review stated that they had a hardware write protect switch and the image even looks like it has one on the side. Alas the latest batch of them no longer have it...

 

[Skyhooker]

I just picked up that Kingston Mobilelite card reader (mentioned above), and can now report that it works perfectly and respects the card's write-protect switch. I had purchased an 8GB card specifically for use in my biz as a toolkit, so it was worthless to me without write-protection, but I couldn't see buying a new flash drive to replace it.