The fact that the data stored is encrypted also means that if the USB stick was taken apart and the flash memory was probed directly the files stored on it would be encrypted and useless to any thief. Encryption is just the “scrambling” of the information using a range of different techniques most of which include large prime numbers!Īdditionally (depending on the encrypted USB sticks used) you only get a small number of attempts to enter the password – get it wrong say more than 6 times and the stick will automatically wipe all the data stored on it!

Passwords with Encryption – in this scenario the length of the password tends to be longer (mandated) and it is used with on-board software to encrypt ALL of the data stored onto the USB stick (Some sticks have an encrypted area so that you can just encrypt some of the data). Password protection is designed to make it difficult to get to the data but no impossible. There is no further security on the stick to prevent access to the data. It will take time and patience but once cracked the data on the USB stick can be read. Typical password software allows the user to define a password of between 4 – 6 characters so it would be relatively easy to undertake what the industry calls a “brute force” attack to breach the password and access the data on the USB stick. It will provide basic security and act as a deterrent but a determined thief will be able to breach the security. Think of it a bit like a simple combination lock. Password Protection Only – this just prevents access to the data on the USB stick. Here’s our take on these two different solutions: There are typically only two different solutions password protection or password protection with data encryption. There tends to be a lot of mystery and/or confusion about what protection techniques can be used to protect data on a USB memory stick but in reality it’s pretty simple.

Usb key password protection