[Bob_Mtl]

What would be the best way to protect data on a USB key?
Data must be accessible on any computer where OS could be of a different version or even Apple. The main or owner computer is Windows 7.
Thanks

 

[NeilN]

Truecrypt http://www.truecrypt.org/ Works on all platforms (see Portable mode in the docs).

 

[Bob_Mtl]

NeilN, this solution seems a little bit complex. Does it implied installing the software on the client computer or is it all running on the USB key? Cannot install a software or change configuration on a client computer.
From the faq there seems to be some limitation

AutoRun Configuration (autorun.inf)

In this section, you can configure the 'traveler disk' to automatically start TrueCrypt or mount a specified TrueCrypt volume when the 'traveler disk' is inserted. This is accomplished by creating a special script file called 'autorun.inf' on the traveler disk. This file is automatically executed by the operating system each time the 'traveler disk' is inserted.

Note, however, that this feature only works for removable storage devices such as CD/DVD (Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or a later version of Windows is required for this feature to work on USB memory sticks) and only when it is enabled in the operating system. Depending on the operating system configuration, these auto-run and auto-mount features may work only when the traveler disk files are created on a non-writable CD/DVD-like medium (which is not a bug in TrueCrypt but a limitation of Windows).

Thanks

 

[NeilN]

Nothing is installed on the client computer but the user needs admin privileges.

 

[NeilN]

Came across this:http://www.lok-it.net/ (I haven't used it personally)

 

[Tezster]

Many companies offer USB keys with built-in encryption of various levels, depending on your specific security needs - the Kingston Data Traveler secure being one example.

 

[NeilN]

You need to be careful of those as many of them only support Windows (some models of Kingston's DataTraveller case in point).