Best way to protect files on a usb drive used on many computers?

Question

Hi,
I'm looking for a way to protect certain files and folders on my usb drive(s) mainly on the drive i use for handing in assignments to teachers and presentations to avoid a nosy teacher going through my personal documents (e.g stories for writing competitions, Images i have created in photoshop, music etc) this all stems from a recent incident which involved my Legal studies teacher going through files for other classes and my music collection and telling me their opinion on my work for other classes and copying my music.

It isn't really practical for me to have several usb drives on the go, so i really need a method that will work on many systems without requiring certain software to access my protected data if i need to edit or change something on the go.

My main usb a 16gb Toshiba came with Lock2.34 (i think) i never set it up and reformatted the drive to remove it and its partitions, as when i was ready to use the program it would not open saying that it and its associated folders were corrupted (all my other data was fine and still works fine).

Sorry for the long winded question its a bad habit of mine. But essentially i require a way to stop certain folders being accessed on a usb drive that is used on multiple systems without requiring those systems to have the program (or exact program) for the protected files to be accessed (similar to how zip files could be password protected prior to vista and win7).

I have looked at 7-zip but am unsure whether the computers i connect to will require 7-zip to open the folder.

Answer 1

I run a business and have multiple externals on the go for tax reasons, and back up regularly, so I have to keep my main PC and Main external at least both on the same page or within 24 hours of each other, so for me not a problem, but for you I would ge a smalled USB stick , just for school if you have a teacher looking at them. Simple separate them? Verbatim USB's you can get for under $30 in Woolworths depending on size? If you hand an assignment in via USB and that USB has personal data on it, your giving your personal data to said teacher?

Answer 2

You can use a folder protector to password protect the folder or files you want to be protected. So, others get your USB, he/she just see/open the files or folders didn't been protected.



http://www.kakasoft.com/folder-encryption/

It meets your requirement and easy to use.

Answer 3

Could just set the files as hidden and when you wanna use em click show hidden files or something

Answer 4

i prefer u to have another usb for passing school projects

Answer 5

http://www.folder-password-protect.com/index.htm follow the link and try this.