Encrypt a USB Drive
Summary
In order to protect data sent to third parties on a USB drive you should encrypt the drive with a password. Windows has a built-in utility - BitLocker To Go - that will so this for you and will make it easy on the recipient to decrypt and access the data you sent them as long as they are using Windows as well.
Procedure
Going through this process will encrypt anything already on the drive as well as encrypting any data you place on it after enabling BitLocker To Go
- Insert the USB drive
- Open Windows File Explorer
- Find the USB Drive you wish to encrypt listed under Devices and drives
- Right-click the USB Drive you wish to encrypt and select Turn on BitLocker
- Put a checkmark in the Use a password to unlock the drive option
-
Enter the password you wish to use and then again to confirm it
- This is the password that you will need to communicate to the recipient in order for them to access the data after you encrypt it
- Click Next
-
You will have to either save the recovery key to a file or print it before you can click Next
- The recovery key can be used to unlock the drive should you forget the password you set. If you don't remember the password or don't have this recovery key, the data will be lost for good - no one will be able to recover it for you.
-
Choose the option to Encrypt entire drive
- We choose this option to ensure that even data you might have deleted in the past on the USB drive will be safe
- Click Start encrypting
Once the encryption process is complete, you can add and remove data as needed - it will all be encrypted. You can test the process by pulling the USB drive out of your computer and then re-inserting it. You'll be prompted to input the password in order to unlock the USB drive. This is the same experience the recipient will have when they go to access your data. They just need to know the password.
***DO NOT send the password along with the USB drive itself - this would defeat the purpose and allow anyone to access your data. Send the password via a separate email or over the phone with the intended recipient.***