The security of sensitive data now is a prime concern for both individuals and organizations following the high profile incidences of privacy and data leakage over memory sticks. The serious consequences of these incidents have forced business and personal users to keep improving traditional security measures and trying to find a good method to encrypt memory sticks for important information.

By encrypting memory stick, the data contained on it is unreadable to anyone except those who have the correct password. In such situations, there are usually 2 options for you. One is hardware encryption while the other is software encryption.

Hardware Encryption

Hardware encryption uses special chips to encrypt and decrypt the data. Many big memory stick manufactures like IronKey and SanDisk provide secure memory sticks with embedded hardware encryption. These hardware-encrypted memory sticks have ability to automatically overwrite the contents of the drive if the wrong password is entered more than a certain number of times. They are one of the good choices to protect data on memory sticks, but they cost you significantly more. And if you want to buy some new secure memory sticks, your previous unencrypted memory sticks will become wasteful. In this case, you can try another security measure - encrypting memory stick with software encryption.

Software Encryption

Software-based encryption encrypts data stored on a memory stick and transparently decrypts the information when an authorized user requests it. USB encryption software usually allows you to add password to protect memory sticks. Without correct password, sensitive data is not viewable to anyone even he have the device in hand. It usually allows you to create a resizable encrypted area for your critical data. This can fully protect your confidential data from prying eyes. Meanwhile, it also enables you to encrypt the sensitive data while keeping some normal shareable on a memory stick. Some also provides the ability to hide your encrypted data.

Compared with hardware-encrypted memory stick, USB encryption software is cheaper while it can provide efficient protection for your sensitive data as secure memory stick does. And just with one USB encryption application, you can turn every unencrypted memory stick into encrypted memory stick. There are various USB encryption software options available for you, including open source and commercial ones. Usually paid software is more reliable. If you want to something that works well, you can try Wondershare USB Drive Encryption.

Wondershare USB Drive Encryption is a handy tool to exactly encrypt memory stick and other portable storage media. With US military-level 256-bit AES, it guarantees the highest level of file security for business and personal users. You are no longer need to worry that a lost USB device may leak your privacy/trade secrets and cause a disaster. It just takes 3 simple steps to extend protection to memory sticks. With correct password, you can view your encrypted files stored on memory sticks on any computer without the protection software installed. You can also hide encrypted data by deleting access to it.

Both hardware encryption and software encryption have their own advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I’d prefer USB encryption software to encrypt my memory sticks. You can select one to encrypt your memory sticks according to your actual needs.