USB Sticks and Security
 
 
Most people who regularly travel or carry a laptop computer understand security and have taken steps to make sure that if their computer is stolen, valuable data and information aren't stolen with it. Corporate travellers are usually required by their companies to implement and use at least minimal security for their data.
 
Most, however, don't look at the ubiquitous little USB sticks (or "dongles") that are populating the tech world. Most people who use computers regularly own and use at least one USB stick to store data, transfer information from system to system, or even to store whole applications so they can use their favourite software "on the go."
 
Most of these people also do nothing to protect their USB stick from theft…
 
If yours is on your keychain, do you remove it before giving the key to a valet? What about leaving it at the coffee shop when you find yourself having to exit in a hurry? Do you leave it plugged into your laptop in your hotel room, having "chained" the laptop to the furniture so it won't get stolen? 
 
These little memory sticks can be just as valuable as the laptop itself, in terms of data. That €100 little stick might mean thousands in lost revenue or millions in lawsuits when your client list is stolen from you… 
 
Do yourself a favour: get a memory stick with built-in security of some kind (a required login, some kind of encryption, etc.) and be careful where you leave it or to whom you give it. That little stick could be as big a risk as your computer itself...