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Privacy and encryption
Data Storage - Software-Encrypted vs Hardware-Encrypted USB Flash Drive vs Cloud Storage
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<blockquote data-quote="HarborFront" data-source="post: 1022306" data-attributes="member: 55987"><p>This topic centers on storing data on software-encrypted vs hardware-encrypted USB flash drive vs cloud storage. External drive storage is chosen over storing on the PC/laptop itself to avoid malware infection or a dead PC/laptop. You can scan the files/folders for malware before storing on the USB flash drive.</p><p></p><p>And emphasis will be on safe data storage, ease of use and transfer between different platforms like Windows and android. Others like storing/sharing/backup of videos/music/photos is secondary.</p><p></p><p>To start off, the Software-encrypted USB flash drive vs the Hardware-encrypted USB flash drive will be discussed</p><p></p><p>Case Scenario</p><p></p><p>If you are sitting in StarBuck with your phone and want to log in to malwaretips.com, but you have forgotten your password. You can</p><p></p><p>1) Log in to your cloud, access the file, retrieve the password and log in to malwaretips.com.</p><p>2) Use a Password Manager.</p><p>3) Take out your software-encrypted flash drive, plug into the phone's USB OTG port, decrypt the file using the app on your phone, retrieve the password and log in to malwaretips.com</p><p>4) Insert your hardware-encrypted USB flash drive into the phone's USB OTG port and unlock it, open the Word doc containing the password, retrieve the password and log in to malwaretips.com</p><p></p><p>In all cases, for security, you still need to remember some kind of password/2FA/PIN/biometrics to log in to the cloud or the app on the phone or the PIN on the hardware-encrypted flash drive</p><p></p><p>Software-encrypted USB flash drive</p><p></p><p>- Here, the files/folders/vaults are encrypted/decrypted on the desktop/phone and stored on the USB flash drive. Flash drive is not encrypted for easy access. You can encrypt the drive too if there's a need.</p><p></p><p>Hardware-encrypted USB flash drive (with physical keypad)</p><p></p><p>- Here, the drive is encrypted/decrypted on the USB flash drive itself. Files/folders need not be encrypted for easy access. You can also encrypt the files/folders if there's a need.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Commonalities - Software-Encrypted vs Hardware-Encrypted Flash Drive</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>PROS</strong></p><p></p><p>1) Everything is in your control. No need to trust others to keep your data safe</p><p>2) No need to depend on internet i.e. local use</p><p>3) No need to use 2FA, hardware security keys or Password Manager</p><p>4) No concern in mobile data usage</p><p>5) Can encrypt files/folders/drive</p><p>6) No worry of data being collected, no worry of Cloud Act, no worry of 5/9/14-eye countries etc</p><p>6) No need to pay subscription for storage</p><p>7) Can have another drive as back up</p><p>8) If need to use the flash drive on other’s PC/phone then need to install onboard a paid AV like ESET USB DriveSecurity</p><p>9) It's OS and platform independent and can work on PC/laptop and phone as long as there's an OS.</p><p></p><p><strong>CONS</strong></p><p></p><p>1) Need to carry devices around, which increases the tendency to lose or cause damage to them. Back up drive is needed.</p><p>2) Need to pay for drives</p><p>3) Difficult to share files/photos/videos because no automatic sharing/syncing/back up</p><p>4) A hassle in use</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Software-Encrypted USB Flash Drive</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>PROS</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>1) Cheaper per GB of USB flash drive + back up drive</strong></p><p><strong>2) No worry of dead battery</strong></p><p><strong>3) Can choose reliable drive brand</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>CONS</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>1) Not tamperproof, no onboard hardware encryption, easily damage flash drive plastic case etc</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>2) Very limited Windows (PC/laptop)-to-Android (phone) software for encryption/decryption. Can use free VeraCrypt on Windows and free compatible EDS Lite on android phone</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>3) Need to install software to encrypt/decrypt on Windows and android phone</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>4) Drive can be formatted even if it’s write-protect/read-only</strong></strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Hardware-Encrypted USB Flash Drive</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>PROS</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>1) </strong>Encryption is on the hardware USB flash drive itself. No software needed</p><p>2) Flash drive case is usually metallic and not easily damage, it's tamperproof, waterproof etc</p><p>3) Cannot format drive unless unlocked by PIN using its keypad</p><p></p><p><strong>CONS</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>1) Need to pay for the more expensive hardware-encrypted flash drives</strong></p><p><strong>2) Reliability of drive to fail is a concern as physical drive brand is usually unknown</strong></p><p><strong>3) Dead built-in battery and unreliable keypad are concerns in the long run</strong></p><p><strong>4) Generally, longer and bulkier than its non-hardware encrypted counterpart</strong></p><p><strong>5) Some hardware-encrypted drive might feel hot during use</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HarborFront, post: 1022306, member: 55987"] This topic centers on storing data on software-encrypted vs hardware-encrypted USB flash drive vs cloud storage. External drive storage is chosen over storing on the PC/laptop itself to avoid malware infection or a dead PC/laptop. You can scan the files/folders for malware before storing on the USB flash drive. And emphasis will be on safe data storage, ease of use and transfer between different platforms like Windows and android. Others like storing/sharing/backup of videos/music/photos is secondary. To start off, the Software-encrypted USB flash drive vs the Hardware-encrypted USB flash drive will be discussed Case Scenario If you are sitting in StarBuck with your phone and want to log in to malwaretips.com, but you have forgotten your password. You can 1) Log in to your cloud, access the file, retrieve the password and log in to malwaretips.com. 2) Use a Password Manager. 3) Take out your software-encrypted flash drive, plug into the phone's USB OTG port, decrypt the file using the app on your phone, retrieve the password and log in to malwaretips.com 4) Insert your hardware-encrypted USB flash drive into the phone's USB OTG port and unlock it, open the Word doc containing the password, retrieve the password and log in to malwaretips.com In all cases, for security, you still need to remember some kind of password/2FA/PIN/biometrics to log in to the cloud or the app on the phone or the PIN on the hardware-encrypted flash drive Software-encrypted USB flash drive - Here, the files/folders/vaults are encrypted/decrypted on the desktop/phone and stored on the USB flash drive. Flash drive is not encrypted for easy access. You can encrypt the drive too if there's a need. Hardware-encrypted USB flash drive (with physical keypad) - Here, the drive is encrypted/decrypted on the USB flash drive itself. Files/folders need not be encrypted for easy access. You can also encrypt the files/folders if there's a need. [SIZE=5][B]Commonalities - Software-Encrypted vs Hardware-Encrypted Flash Drive[/B][/SIZE] [B]PROS[/B] 1) Everything is in your control. No need to trust others to keep your data safe 2) No need to depend on internet i.e. local use 3) No need to use 2FA, hardware security keys or Password Manager 4) No concern in mobile data usage 5) Can encrypt files/folders/drive 6) No worry of data being collected, no worry of Cloud Act, no worry of 5/9/14-eye countries etc 6) No need to pay subscription for storage 7) Can have another drive as back up 8) If need to use the flash drive on other’s PC/phone then need to install onboard a paid AV like ESET USB DriveSecurity 9) It's OS and platform independent and can work on PC/laptop and phone as long as there's an OS. [B]CONS[/B] 1) Need to carry devices around, which increases the tendency to lose or cause damage to them. Back up drive is needed. 2) Need to pay for drives 3) Difficult to share files/photos/videos because no automatic sharing/syncing/back up 4) A hassle in use [SIZE=5][B]Software-Encrypted USB Flash Drive[/B][/SIZE] [B]PROS 1) Cheaper per GB of USB flash drive + back up drive 2) No worry of dead battery 3) Can choose reliable drive brand [B]CONS 1) Not tamperproof, no onboard hardware encryption, easily damage flash drive plastic case etc 2) Very limited Windows (PC/laptop)-to-Android (phone) software for encryption/decryption. Can use free VeraCrypt on Windows and free compatible EDS Lite on android phone 3) Need to install software to encrypt/decrypt on Windows and android phone 4) Drive can be formatted even if it’s write-protect/read-only[/B][/B] [SIZE=5][B]Hardware-Encrypted USB Flash Drive[/B][/SIZE] [B]PROS 1) [/B]Encryption is on the hardware USB flash drive itself. No software needed 2) Flash drive case is usually metallic and not easily damage, it's tamperproof, waterproof etc 3) Cannot format drive unless unlocked by PIN using its keypad [B]CONS 1) Need to pay for the more expensive hardware-encrypted flash drives 2) Reliability of drive to fail is a concern as physical drive brand is usually unknown 3) Dead built-in battery and unreliable keypad are concerns in the long run 4) Generally, longer and bulkier than its non-hardware encrypted counterpart 5) Some hardware-encrypted drive might feel hot during use[/B] [/QUOTE]
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