Practicing flash drive security:
Practicing flash drive security:USB flash drives offer users a number of benefits. Customizable in terms of shape, size, style, color, and capability, flash drives have something to offer everyone. Not only are they affordable and reliable, but they are also a convenient and portable way to transfer all of your most important files. For these reasons and others, attackers also find flash drives appealing.
Attackers, individuals who would access your USB flash drive files with malicious intent, find insecure flash drives to be a great target. Flash drives are an easy way for an attacker to identify with and attack a computer. Sometimes they enter into your files through a flash drive with a harmful code that is detected and activated when the drive is plugged into the computer’s USB port. Other times, they can infect the flash drive directly.
Because of this, it is important for you to secure your flash drive from harm. From family photographs to bank passwords, attackers can steal or corrupt all of your files if you aren’t careful. The five tips below should help you to make your flash drives more secure from harmful outside forces.
1. Don’t connect an unknown drive.
It is very important that you don’t plug an unfamiliar drive into your computer until you are absolutely certain that it is safe. The flash drive could contain a harmful virus, and that virus could easily infect your computer when you plug it in. So if you find a lost flash drive, take it to an IT department or computer center instead of plugging it in on your own computer. They should be able to find and contact the owners for you, and if they can’t find the owners, they should at least be able to tell you if the drive you found is safe to use.
2. Use more than one flash drive.
Flash drives are great for holding a variety of file types in one place, but many people find that they benefit from keeping their information on more than one flash drive. Some separate flash drives for business use and personal use; some simply keep all their files backed up on another flash drive. Whatever you choose, having multiple flash drives can benefit you immensely. If the security of one of your flash drives is compromised, you know that you still have the other flash drive to rely on.
3. Use security features.
3. Use security features.Many flash drives can be formatted to require a password. Others allow you to encrypt your data. While these may seem extreme, oftentimes, they are as easy to use as they are helpful. These security features are designed to keep attackers from accessing your private data, so they help give you peace of mind knowing that your files are under multiple levels of protection.
4. Keep software up to date.
Security software is an essential part of keeping your flash drive files safe, so it is important for you to use and maintain your security software. These types of software, which can include firewalls, anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and more, make your computer less vulnerable to attackers’ attempts to access your personal files. Keeping your software up to date means that you have all the latest patches and developments helping to protect your personal information.
5. Disable automatic opening.
This is an extremely important step in keeping your flash drive files safe. Many computers offer the ability to automatically open devices like flash drives, CDs, and DVDs when they are inserted into the computer. While this is helpful sometimes, when it comes to flash drives, this feature should be disabled. By disabling automatic opening settings, you help to prevent attackers’ codes and viruses from entering your computer. You can change your automatic opening settings by searching under your general computer application settings.
CFgear
If not properly secured, your flash drives can make your computer vulnerable to security attacks. The tips above should help you keep your flash drives safe.CFgear, one of the nation’s leading flash drive companies, cares about the safety and security of flash drives everywhere. For years, CFgear has been providing schools, businesses, churches, and other organizations with top-quality flash drives at affordable prices. Their huge range of flash drive choices, including fully customized shapes, combined with their lifetime warranty, has made CFgear one of America’s favorite flash drive sources for gifts, promotions, prizes, marketing purposes, and more. For a no-obligations quote or for more information on this South Dakota-based company, visit their website today at cfgear.com.
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