With the rise in data breaches and cyber attacks, it’s becoming increasingly important to protect sensitive data stored on external hard drives. Encrypting an external hard drive is one of the best ways to password protect your data and prevent unauthorized access. According to Record Nations, “Encryption is the key to protecting the data on your hard drives. You can choose an encryption program that will make it more difficult for the thief to access and read your data” [1]. Hard drive encryption uses complex mathematical algorithms to scramble data, making it unreadable without the correct password or key.
There are many reasons why you may want to password protect or encrypt your external hard drive. Your external hard drive likely contains sensitive personal information, financial records, business files, photos, or other data that would be problematic if accessed by others. Encryption ensures privacy and security if your device is ever lost, stolen, or subject to unauthorized access. There are various software programs and hardware encryption methods available to password protect your external hard drive, which will be explored throughout this article.
[1] https://www.recordnations.com/articles/encrypt-external-hard-drive/
Software Encryption
One option for encrypting a portable hard drive is to use encryption software. Some popular encryption software choices include BitLocker for Windows, FileVault for Mac, VeraCrypt, and AxCrypt (Source). Software encryption has the advantage of being built directly into some operating systems, like BitLocker and FileVault. It also does not require any additional hardware. However, software encryption alone may not be as secure as also using hardware encryption.
Here is a step-by-step guide for encrypting a hard drive with VeraCrypt software on Windows:
- Download and install VeraCrypt from https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Downloads.html
- Plug your external hard drive into your computer via USB
- Open VeraCrypt and select “Create Volume” and then choose “Encrypt a non-system partition/drive”
- Select the external hard drive you want to encrypt from the dropdown menu
- Choose your preferred encryption algorithms
- Enter a secure password that will be required to access the encrypted drive
- Click “Encrypt” to start the encryption process
- The initial encryption may take a while depending on the size of the drive and encryption strength
- Once complete, the external hard drive will be encrypted and inaccessible without the password
Following these steps allows software encryption like VeraCrypt to password protect and secure an external portable hard drive (Source). Just be sure to remember the password, or the data on the drive may be inaccessible.
Hardware Encryption
External hard drives with built-in encryption provide strong security by handling the encryption process entirely within the hardware. This means no passwords or encryption keys are stored on the host computer. Some benefits of hardware encryption include:
- Faster performance since the encryption/decryption happens on the drive’s dedicated cryptoprocessor
- No reliance on host computer resources or software
- Keys are stored only on the drive itself making it more secure if device is lost/stolen
Potential downsides are that hardware encrypted drives tend to be more expensive than software solutions. Also if the device fails, data recovery can be very difficult or impossible if the encryption keys are lost.
Popular hardware encrypted external drive options include:
- Apricorn Aegis Secure Drives – Rugged encrypted HDDs and SSDs with keypads or fobs for unlocking
- iStorage diskAshur HDDs and SSDs – PIN authenticated USB drives with capacities up to 5TB
- SecureData SecureDrive BT – Affordable encrypted USB drive with capacities up to 4TB
These and other hardware encrypted options provide easy-to-use security for external storage without relying on host computer resources or software.
Setting a Password
When setting up password protection for a portable hard drive, it’s important to choose a strong password that would be difficult for someone else to guess. According to helpdeskgeek.com, your password should be at least 8 characters long and include upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (https://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/how-to-set-a-password-for-an-external-hard-drive/). Avoid using common words, names, dates, or any other information that could be easily discovered.
To set up password protection, you’ll need to enable encryption software like BitLocker on Windows or FileVault on Mac. This allows you to create a password that will be required to access the drive contents (https://drivesaversdatarecovery.com/password-protect-external-hard-drive/). Be sure to store your password in a safe place, as losing your password could mean permanently losing access to your data.
When managing your password, avoid reusing the same password across multiple devices or accounts. Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords. You may also set password hints or backup codes in case you ever forget your password for the hard drive.
Accessing the Encrypted Drive
Once a portable hard drive is password protected, accessing the files when plugging into a new computer requires a few simple steps:
First, physically connect the encrypted hard drive to the new computer using the USB cable. Most modern operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux will automatically detect and mount the drive. However, the contents will remain encrypted and inaccessible without the password.
Next, open the encryption software used to originally set the password, such as BitLocker on Windows or FileVault on macOS. The software will prompt for the password to unlock and decrypt the drive. Entering the correct password grants access to all files stored on the encrypted drive.
If the drive does not automatically open after entering the password, you may need to manually mount it. On Windows, access Disk Management, right-click the encrypted drive, and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths.” Provide an unused drive letter like E: or F: to mount the drive and gain access through File Explorer.
If the encryption software is unavailable on the new computer, tools like VeraCrypt can often still decrypt other encrypted drives. VeraCrypt supports drives encrypted with BitLocker, FileVault 2, and its own format.
With the correct password and compatible software, an encrypted portable hard drive can be conveniently accessed on almost any computer. Just be sure to remember passwords and securely store any recovery keys needed to unlock the drive.
Resetting Forgotten Passwords
If you forget the password for your encrypted portable hard drive, there are a few options for gaining access again:
Using Backup Keys
Most disk encryption software will generate a backup key or recovery key when you first set up encryption. This key can be used to reset the password and decrypt the drive if you ever forget your password. The backup key may be a long alphanumeric code that you can print out and store securely, such as in a safe. Refer to your encryption software’s documentation for using the backup key to reset your password.
Resetting Without a Backup Key
If you don’t have a backup key, resetting the password is more difficult but may still be possible. Some software like BitLocker offer a recovery process that can decrypt the drive by recovering encryption keys from the computer used to set up encryption. This requires advanced technical knowledge. Third-party tools also exist that may be able to brute force decrypt the drive by guessing passwords, but they can be expensive and results aren’t guaranteed.https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/186045/is-it-possible-to-reset-the-password-of-an-encrypted-disk As a last resort, you may need to reformat the drive, erasing all data.
Security Risks
While encrypted portable hard drives provide an additional layer of security for your data, there are some weaknesses and vulnerabilities to be aware of:
Drive encryption can be brute forced or cracked over time as computing power increases (cite source 1). Encryption keys could also potentially be stolen if malware infects the host computer (cite source 2).
To protect against hacking attempts, it’s important to use strong passwords that would be difficult to guess. Enable password protection features like automatic locking after inactivity. Also be cautious when connecting the drive to unfamiliar devices or networks, as malware could compromise the encryption (cite source 3).
While not foolproof, using encryption still offers substantially more protection for your data versus an unencrypted drive. But no storage device is completely secure from a targeted and sustained hacking effort.
Data Recovery
Recovering data from an encrypted or locked hard drive can be challenging, but is possible in many cases using the right tools and techniques. If you’ve forgotten your password or encryption key, professional data recovery services may be able to help unlock and retrieve your data.
Data recovery software like Stellar can bypass passwords and encryption to scan drives for recoverable content. This works by looking for residual data left on the drive from before it was encrypted. Results vary based on the encryption method and how much the drive has been used since encryption.
If the drive uses BitLocker encryption, you may be able to decrypt it by logging into a Windows administrator account and using the BitLocker recovery tools to enter the recovery key or decrypt the drive. This allows you to regain access without losing data.
As a last resort, data recovery services like DriveSavers and Kroll Ontrack use specialized tools in dust-free cleanrooms to dismantle drives and read raw data off the platters. This is an expensive option but may recover data when all else fails.
To avoid data loss, remember encryption passwords and back up unencrypted copies of important files. But if your data is locked away, don’t give up hope. With the right approach, you still have a good chance of getting it back.
Alternatives to Encryption
While encrypting portable hard drives can provide an extra layer of security, it may not always be the best or only solution. Here are some alternatives to consider:
Using cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive allows files to be accessed from anywhere while also providing security features like two-factor authentication. The files are encrypted by the service provider and you don’t have to worry about managing passwords or encryption yourself. However, your data is in the hands of the service provider.
For sensitive files you access infrequently, an alternative is to store them in a hidden encrypted volume using a tool like VeraCrypt. This creates a hidden encrypted volume within the normal volume that is invisible and cannot be proved to exist. You would only access it when needed.[1]
If you don’t have highly sensitive data and the drive never leaves your possession, encryption may be unnecessary. Having adequate password protection on your computer along with physical control of the drive could provide reasonable security.
Ultimately the need for encryption depends on your specific security needs and threat model. While it provides an extra safeguard, alternatives like cloud storage or hidden volumes may suit your needs just as well.
[1] https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/truecrypt-alternatives/
Conclusion
In summary, there are a few main ways to password protect a portable hard drive. The most common methods are using software encryption tools like BitLocker or VeraCrypt to encrypt the drive, or buying a drive with built-in hardware encryption. Setting a password is straightforward, but it’s critical to remember the password or recovery key, lest the data becomes inaccessible.
Encryption provides an extra layer of security for sensitive data. However, it’s important to weigh the benefits of encryption versus the risks of losing access to that data forever. Maintaining backups of encrypted data and storing recovery keys in a safe place can help strike the right balance.
With proper precautions, portable hard drive encryption enables securely transporting or storing confidential information without worry of unauthorized access if the drive is lost or stolen.