 BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3
 ·Bell Fibe
| Why don't they make USB keys with write protect anymore? I remember times when every single USB key had small hardware switch to disable write on it.
Still have one such 128MB key at home.
I wish they made them these days.
It's ideal for archiving as precaution to not delete your data accidentally needles to say making it read only when using it on untrusted computer for let's say presentations, security cleaning, browsing of the stick...
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 jmn1207Premium
join:2000-07-19
Ashburn, VA | Depending on your operating system, you might be able to write protect your USB drive through the registry or with some freeware utility.
This one works for Windows.
»www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-S···or.shtml |
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 angussfPremium
join:2002-01-11
Tucson, AZ
kudos:3 | reply to Brano
They do, I bought a PQi USB drive with WP last year. Google for "PQI U339" or 'pqi usb flash "write protect"' |
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BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3 | reply to jmn1207
You're missing my point. The above software solution will work on one machine only running windows.
HW switch works on all machines regardless of OS. |
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 jimkyleBtrieve GuyPremium
join:2002-10-20
Oklahoma City, OK
kudos:2
 ·AT&T Southwest
| They're still available. I've bought 20 of them in the past several months. Google for "RIData" (they make several kinds of flash drives) then search the results for "hidden write protect switch" and you've got what you are looking for. I bought 1-GB units but they are also available in larger sizes...
--
Jim Kyle |
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| said by jimkyle:They're still available. I've bought 20 of them in the past several months. Google for "RIData" (they make several kinds of flash drives) then search the results for "hidden write protect switch" and you've got what you are looking for. I bought 1-GB units but they are also available in larger sizes... Yep. I bought two 8GB RiData thumb drives with a write protect switch from Newegg last month. Very handy, though RiData is definitely not Apple when it comes to design.
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davePremium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio
kudos:7 | reply to Brano
Because it cost them 5 cents more per unit to make. |
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BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3 | Thank you all.
I did not see them in stores but it's good to know I can get one on-line ...will surly get one.
Thanks. |
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BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3 | reply to dave
said by dave:Because it cost them 5 cents more per unit to make. Yes! |
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jmn1207Premium
join:2000-07-19
Ashburn, VA | reply to Brano
said by Brano:You're missing my point. The above software solution will work on one machine only running windows. HW switch works on all machines regardless of OS. From what I read, not having used the product myself, it appears that you are making the USB drive read only. The software is making the USB drive a read only device until you change the settings on the computer running this software. |
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BPremium,MVM
join:2000-10-28 | reply to Brano
You could also use an SD card with a pocket reader/key. Most of them still have write-protect switches.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Bell Fibe
| said by B:You could also use an SD card with a pocket reader/key. Most of them still have write-protect switches. That's just a fake switch on SD cards. It's a SW switch but you can still write on write protected card with proper software. |
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BPremium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
3 edits | Yeah, I thought so too! But according to some reports --
»www.tomshardware.com/forum/11414···rotected
there actually is a corresponding write-protect hardware switch on the SD card readers that honors the position of the write-protect tab/hole.
That switch existing in a $5 portable SD reader is perhaps unlikely.
Edit: Hmm, it's a pretty simple switch -- here's a good description at »www.getflashmemory.info/hack-why···otected/
Their pictures mirrored above in the interest of the greater good.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Bell Fibe
1 edit | Hmm 
My Canon PowerShot camera with 3rd party firmware can easily write on write protected card. In fact, it uses the switch to determine what firmware to boot to. If un-protected standard firmware is booted, if protected custom firmware is booted (and yes, it still can write pictures to the card). |
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V7
join:2006-04-14
Dinuba, CA
1 edit | reply to Brano
I had the same thought about a year ago. I do computer consulting and keep all my software tools on a flash drive. I work on alot of computers that are spyware and virus infested and I managed to infect my own flash drive a couple of times. I searched everywhere for a flash drive that had a write protect option and found the pickings very slim. As "jimkyle" posted above, RIDATA is about the only manufacturer that still makes flash drives with a write protect option. I bought a 4GB unit from Newegg about a year ago, but after a quick search I see they only stock the 1GB & 2GB models. I found the 4GB model available here:
»www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/Se···ID=14640
This is the same 4GB I have and it works fine. It is SLOWER than my workhorse Sandisk Cruzer Micro, but acceptable, especially considering I don't have to worry about infecting it every time I plug it into a client's computer.
Chuck |
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BPremium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
2 edits | reply to Brano
Great, but that's really a hardware (or at least firmware) function if you think about it. Canon may have decided that it didn't make sense to support "write-protect" for a dedicated image capture device, so they used the switch for something else. (Uh, either that, or your custom firmware reprogrammed that firmware operation.)
I haven't found software that bypasses the write-protect feature in PCs. As the readers themselves are primitive (no firmware per se), my guess is you'd have to futz with the OS's driver for it.
Some other choices besides Ridata:
»club.cdfreaks.com/f122/usb-flash···-218895/
Re: USB flash with write protect
Vendors are reintroducing the external write protect switch.
The Imitation Clip Flash Drive 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB (Clips securely to your bag, briefcase, backpack, or belt loop) has an external write protect switch.
The Trekstor 50324 8GB USB-Stick CS Flash Drive has a external write protect switch.
The thread is old but hopeful someone can benefit from this information.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3 | OK, agreed, but it's still a fake switch and with modified HW/SW an attacker can write to your write protected card. |
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| reply to B
*sigh*
Firmware is software.
A hardware toggle (switch) is used. It's an optional feature found on the vast majority of SD, not miniSD, readers. The status of the toggle must be honoured by firmware due to the command-based, as opposed to hardwired, writes. See the specification pinouts for the obvious.
"Write protection" is separate from CPRM. Let's avoid card specific data registers - we wouldn't want to confuse the issue  . |
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Reviews:
 ·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to Brano
said by Brano:OK, agreed, but it's still a fake switch and with modified HW/SW an attacker can write to your write protected card. If an "attacker" has physical access to your memory card then you have much larger problems to begin with. The purpose of the switch is to prevent accidental data loss and for that purpose it doesn't really matter how the switch works. |
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BranoI hate VogonsPremium,MVM
join:2002-06-25
Burlington, ON
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Bell Fibe
1 edit | Disagree.
Imagine following scenario: I go to a customer site to drop off some documents. I insert the key into their PC, copy docs over and remove the key.
During this process I want to be sure nothing got on my USB key. With "soft" switch you can't guarantee this.
Same goes for security cleaning. |
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