# Recommend Encryption Software for Removable Drive **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953 "2016-04-02T18:19:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/1 "2016-04-02T18:19:14Z")
What’s a good encryption software for removable drives? I know Windows has something built-in. I don’t want that. I want software that’s going to ask for a password when the drive is plugged in to the computer. I think this would give me the flexibility to use the drive with multiple computers versus Bitlocker. If this makes a difference, I’m pretty sure my computer doesn’t have a TPM chip. What say the Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/2 "2016-04-02T19:15:39Z")
I’m using Western Digital “My Passport” drives. They have built in (optional) password protection for access. I don’t know whether the encryption is really hackerproof or not, but it’s enough to keep a nosy roommate or coworker from snooping on your removable drive. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/3 "2016-04-02T20:50:45Z")
[VeraCrypt](https://veracrypt.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Portable%20Mode) is one of the new standards in encryption software, continuing from where TrueCrypt left off a few years ago. I haven’t used it specifically for a removable drive, but I’m pretty sure you can put a portable installation on your drive and use it to access encrypted file containers on the drive. That container will then be mounted as an additional drive on the computer you’re using. However, you’ll need administrative privileges to run it. There may be a more elegant way to use it that I’m not familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/4 "2016-04-03T18:20:28Z")
Thanks to you two. I’ll take a look at the hard drives with built-in encryption when these drives die. The VeraCrypt looks like a winner. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/5 "2016-04-03T18:47:02Z")
Bitlocker will do exactly what you want. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/6 "2016-04-03T18:58:29Z")
True, but only with Windows (assuming you’re using the portable “bitlocker to go”). On the other hand, you can put portable VeraCrypt installs for Windows, Linux, and Mac on your removable drive so the encrypted files can be accessed on any computer. But if the OP doesn’t care about cross-platform support Bitlocker will probably be a little simpler. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/7 "2016-04-03T20:25:08Z")
I second VeraCrypt. It is relatively easy to use, backwards compatible with TrueCrypt volumes, and very configurable. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/8 "2016-04-03T22:05:07Z")
Good point, **lazybratsche**. Cross-platform compatibility is something I hadn’t thought about yet I’d want: my primary computer has to OS’s on it. **Wolf333** , I thought Bitlocker required a TPM chip. My computer doesn’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/9 "2016-04-03T22:10:10Z")
> [@Caractacus\_Pott](#): > > Good point, **lazybratsche**. Cross-platform compatibility is something I hadn’t thought about yet I’d want: my primary computer has to OS’s on it. > > **Wolf333** , I thought Bitlocker required a TPM chip. My computer doesn’t have one. Bitlocker To Go doesn’t require a TPM. In fact, you can enable Bitlocker for any drive with a group policy edit. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-encryption-software-for-removable-drive/750953/10 "2016-04-04T02:36:46Z")
That works on Linux and Mac, too?