Write-protecting a flash drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike S.
  • Start date Start date
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Mike S.

Is anyone familiar with a utility that can be executed from a flash drive
(filled with portable applications) that will prevent a host computer from
deleting files contained on the removeable drive?
 
Is anyone familiar with a utility that can be executed from a flash drive
(filled with portable applications) that will prevent a host computer from
deleting files contained on the removeable drive?
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? Do you have such an utility? Or
do you want one? AFAIK, flash does not have generic write
protection. Some USB flash keys have a physical swicth, but
by no means all of them.

Arno
 
What are you talking about? Do you have such an utility? Or
do you want one? AFAIK, flash does not have generic write
protection. Some USB flash keys have a physical swicth, but
by no means all of them.
Click to expand...

I am looking for such a utility for flash drives that lack a hardware
write-protect switch.
 
Did you try TrueCrypt?
Click to expand...

Yes, but once an encrypted partition is open and accessible to the host
PC, any of the files contained therein can be deleted or modified.
 
Yes, but once an encrypted partition is open and accessible to the host
PC, any of the files contained therein can be deleted or modified.
Click to expand...

That's why you should logout, and set proper
permission and ownership in the files.

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See this Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Usbkey_internals.jpg
Click to expand...
The datasheet for the controller IC (Ours Technology Inc. OTi-2168)
states that "comprehensive application software for security function
with Windows OS is also available". However, I think this is just host
based software that partitions the drive into "Public" and "Security"
areas.
Click to expand...
See http://www.datasheet4u.com/download.php?id=518150
or http://www.karyy.com/doc/oti/2168.pdf
Click to expand...
The above IC has a Write Protect pin.
Click to expand...
The NAND flash chip in that same Wikipedia article (Hynix
HY27(U/S)SXX121M series) also has a "Write Protect pin ... to give a
hardware protection against program and erase operations".

I suspect that if you were to go to the trouble of cracking open your
USB drive, you may be able to retrofit a hardware WP function.
Otherwise just buy a flash drive with this feature.
Click to expand...

Good summary.

Arno
 
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