Store files securely on a USB flash drive

Aug 04, '06 07:30:02AM

Contributed by: BrentT

I wanted to securely carry files on a USB flash drive. I wanted a system that would be safe if I lost the drive, but not necessarily encrypt and decrypt every file on it. I found some shareware encryption solutions, but I wanted a way that was free. Here's my solution:

  1. If the flash drive is MS-DOS formatted, use Disk Utility to reformat the USB drive to Mac OS format without the OS 9 drivers.
  2. In Disk Utility, choose File -> New -> Blank Disk Image.
  3. Select a size that is less than the flash drive's maximum size, then select Encryption -> AES-126, then select Format -> Sparse Disk Image. Select Create, you will then be asked for a password. Provide the password and save the image to your hard drive.
  4. Copy the file secure-disk-name.sparseimage to the USB drive.
  5. Open the sparseimage file from the flash drive. You will be asked for the password. A new drive will appear with the name of the sparseimage drive you created. Save your files to that drive.
When you're done working on files, eject the sparseimage drive. Your files can now be seen only by using the password.

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