Get To Know Your External Hard Disk
Get To Know Your External Hard Disk
Gone are the days when you would carry a bulky file folder with all the necessary documents that you needed for your work or other purposes. Today, as technology has opened up new vistas for humanity, the portability of data is just a matter of carrying a small device in your pocket or purse. An external hard disk has become the most convenient way to take the information you require from one place to another.
Also known as a portable hard drive or usb hard drive, an external hard disk is an external pierce of electronic hardware that helps you store and retrieve data by connecting to a computer through an usb port.
External Hard Disk – Ease of use
The greatest advantage is that the external hard disk does not require any kind of software to function. You only need a computer that has an usb port where you can connect your usb drive and access the data stored in it. Since all computers come with usb ports, connecting the usb drive is never an issue. Another benefit of an external hard disk is that you can re-write its contents. If you do not need a file any longer, it is possible to remove it and store new files.
External Hard Disk – A huge storage capacity
Though the physical size of the external hard disk is small it has the ability to carry a vast amount of information in the same place. The storage capacity of the new generation usb drives is really enormous. A current mid-range external hard disk can have a storage capacity of 1 terabyte and more. If your data storage requirements are on the larger size & where portability is a factor then getting an external hard disk would be a great investment.
External Hard Disk – Get peace of mind though backups of your data
The purpose of the external hard disk consists of more than just transporting information. It is also a great device for backing up vital data stored in your computer. You can keep a copy of all the important files and documents from your system on an external hard disk. If there is a system crash then you will still have all the required data with you stored safely in your external hard disk.
You can also use your external hard disk as an additional storage space if your computer’s storage capacity is limited. An external hard disk is an excellent device for storing large files like movies or songs which will otherwise take up a lot of space on the hard drive of the computer.
External Hard Disk – No special power requirements
An external hard disk will either be powered through the usb port that you have plugged it into or will have its own power cord attached to its own internal power supply that you would just have to plug into a normal household wall electricity socket. In the case of the external hard disk that gets plugging into the wall socket it will have a separate cord that you plug into the usb port of your computer in order to transfer data to and from you external hard disk. Just read the specifications of the external hard disk when purchasing, it will normally tell you whether it is usb powered or powered via its own power supply.
Other than that these are plug-and-play devices; so you can plug the drive into any computer and the operating system will identify the external hard disk and read its contents without any need to restart the system to access data.
Here are three great options for external hard disk purchases, click on each view pricing & purchase options:
1. Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Black)
2. Western Digital WD Elements 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDBAAU0010HBK-NESN
3. Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk v 2.0 3 TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive – STAC3000102 (Black)
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Usb Disk Security Guidelines
Usb Disk Security Guidelines
Usb hard drives are considered an excellent and convenient means to store, transport, and retain important data. Today, businessmen, lawyers, doctors, teachers, students and almost everyone else carry information on portable usb drives. The small size and high storage capacity of these devices have made them the popular choice in external drives.
However, being very small sticks, it is easier to lose them also. This can be a major concern when it comes to usb disk security. Sometimes, these drives may contain highly sensitive and crucial data the loss of which may be detrimental for the person or organization.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to protect your usb hard drive from all possible hazards by means of usb disk security. There are several methods to practice usb disk security thereby making sure that the data stored in the usb drive is safe and secure.
Usb Disk Security | Guideline 1: Password Protection
The portability of the usb hard drive can sometimes be a troublesome factor. Anyone can easily pick it up from your desk or bag and access the information contained within. In order to prevent the misuse of personal data such as photos, bank details, identity records, etc. you can protect the contents of the usb drive with a password.
The most popular method to password protect usb drives is by using software that help you in locking away the confidential information stored on the drive. There are plenty of free software available on the internet that claim to provide the maximum usb disk security. However, you must be wary of using such free software as there is no way to verify the safety and usability of such software beforehand.
Sometimes, these very password protection softwares may cause virus attacks and compromise the security of personal data. Hence, it is always a better idea to purchase professional password protection software from a reliable source. This will ensure that even if you lose your usb drive, the person who has taken it will not be able to access the data.
Usb Disk Security | Guideline 2: Encryption
Though password protection is a good method for usb disk security, there is still a chance of hacking the password and accessing the information. This is why encrypting the usb hard drive is considered as the most powerful and secure method for usb disk security protection. It can be software encryption or hardware encryption depending on the level of security needed.
In software encryption, an encrypting application is installed on the usb drive. This application will encrypt all the data on the drive; the data will be scrambled making it inaccessible. Thus, even if the drive is stolen, the thieves will not be able to decipher the encrypted data without the encryption keys and password.
When it comes to hardware encryption, the technology is built into the hardware of the usb drive. You can plug the usb hard drive into the computer and follow the instructions to secure the drive. Though hardware encryption is costlier than software encryption, it is the most secure method for usb disk security protection.
Usb Disk Security | Guideline 3: Anti-virus Software
When you directly download files to your usb drive, there are chances of virus attacks. It can also happen when you plug your drive into a computer or other usb ports in a public place. In order to prevent such viral attacks, it is advisable to equip your usb hard drive with powerful anti-virus software. You can also use your desktop antivirus software to scan the usb hard drive in order to remove any malicious viruses present on it.
Here are three great options for secure usb hard drive purchases, click on each view pricing & purchase options:
1. Corsair 16 GB Padlock 2 USB 2.0 Flash Drive CMFPLA16GB
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