Securing your data on the road

Have you noticed that USB drives are getting smaller? I am talking of their physical size of course, because their capacity seems to break a new record every time I check.

Speaking then of their outside measures, don't settle for one of the 3 inches long variety: they are out.

Actually I have to find a better use for the ones I have. Perhaps hang them from a laundry line to create a makeshift organizer for USB cords ? Probably not, it's not a good idea after all.

I am obviously joking, because my drives are still working well, but someone must have overstocked the large sized models because I keep seeing creative new ways of using USB drives, for example disguised as bracelets, flashlights and other similar nonsense.

To see with your own eyes subscribe to Engadget: they keep a close watch on these and other more compelling novelties.

Regardless, if you have or have seen a miniature format USB drive, the old ones will seems as antiquate as the Pyramids. Courtesy of PMC Sierra I got a 64K one, which is slightly longer than 2 inches and has a semi-transparent blue shell that offers a really cool view of the inside electronics.

However, my favorite USB drive is now the CryptoStick, sold by Research Triangle Software, Inc.

The name is a giveaway: you can actually encrypt and compress data on that drive, using the software that comes, you guess it, on the drive. They sent me a 128MB unit for a test ride and I am having a hard time filling it with data because with compression the capacity jumps to about 400MB. However, you can save files to CryptoStick without using encryption, just as you do with any other drive.

To use encryption, you start a middle-man application that will prompt to set up a password on first time use.

After that, the proxy-apps will propose using CryptoBuddy, your encryption software, or covering your tracks with a secure browser session that doesn't leave any trace behind.

If you are paranoid and browsing on someone else computer, the last apps is for you.

To save data in encrypted (and at the same time compressed) format, you start the CryptoBuddy, which opens a Windows Explorer look-alike window with two panes, one for input on the left, and the other one, obviously on the right, for output.

In essence, you navigate to your input files on the left and choose the target location on the right. Select the files, choose a counter-intuitive "Translate Process" button, and your files will be compressed and encrypted in no time. Reverse that process to bring your files back in the open.

I like CryptoStick and to be fair the software does what's expected, but the GUI could use some face-lift, because it now displays a very spartan look and some unfortunate choice of words.

Hey folks, how about labeling that button "Encrypt" instead of "Translate Process" in the next version of CryptoBuddy? It took me a while to figure that one out. Also, why do I have to set a password (twice of course) every time I encrypt a file? A choice to use the master password by default would be nice.

Other than that CryptoStick rocks. You can choose from many models, with capacity ranging from 32MB to 4GB. The price also jumps accordingly, from 10 bucks to nearly $500 for the larger model.

The slick aluminum case of the drive is just too cool. More important, the encryption works: filenames and directory structure are still in clear, but the file content becomes a meaningless jumble, as it should. Even if you are not paranoid, CryptoStick is an effective protection from embarassing disclosures both of business and personal data. Give it a try.