IF YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT SECURITY FOR YOUR DATA

In this week's tips, we first talk about a security application that is from the open source community and is cross platform compatible for Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX.

The name of this application is Truecrypt and it truly is a secure application to store your data.

Say you want to create a lock box vault on your hard drive for storing critical files.  Possibly examples could be taxes, credit card info, banking or investments and passwords.

Other utilities can do this, however Truecrypt  allows you to encrypt with several protocols at once. You create a volume of files that is hidden and invisible on your hard disk and you encrypt it with AES, Twofish, Serpent and other encryption protocols. Be sure and  click on (and read!) the Protection of Hidden Volumes Against Damage link in Truecypt's left side bar.

No other program out there will offer you this kind of protection.

Kanguru Solutions offers a usb flash device that you can purchase with this encryption on it. If your  flash drive is ever lost or stolen, it has a circuit that automatically destroys what is on your device. These usb devices have been used in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

The encryption is done on the fly, which means in real time so it is next to impossible to break this. Since it is open source it is free – you are not obligated to pay anything but may make a donation to the site if you choose to.  Think about the possibilities and layers of protection that you would never be able to achieve before.

Now, the software is free, the James Bond circuited usb drives made by Kanguru are not. They will cost you $149.00 with 4Gig for that capability. You also have the option to install this on a portable usb drive.  If the information is important enough then it could be secured in a bank deposit box or elsewhere.

If you already have a thumbdrive, you can secure it with TrueCrypt:  Securing Your USB Thumbdrive

It turns out you can put a lot of security applications and other cool stuff on your thumbdrive.  One fellow has 28 of them, and calls it his Thumbdrive toolbox.

We'll end with two ultra-safe options, PocketSafe, and the world's most secure USB drive: Ironkey

Travel safe with your data, for it belongs to you and no one else.

Marco