Iron Key/Browsing From Flash Drive

[Joeywhat]

Just found something called the Iron Key, basically a flash drive that claims very good encription. Anyone use one? Worth the price? I really don't carry much on thumb drives that I consider extremely personal or 'mission critical', however I'm always intrigued by things like that.

It also got me interested in browsing from the flash drive (like using Firefox or Opera). How exactly does this work? Everyone seems to claim 'private browsing' and I'm led to believe that one could be completely anonymous when using this? Could I, for instance connect the flash drive (with browser, etc. loaded on) to any old computer and surf ANY website I desire as if I were never there? Is that how it works?

 

[Hinermad]

What happens is that cookie files, browsing history, and other traces of your browsing on that computer are stored on the flash drive, so when you leave the computer you take them away with you and the next user on that computer can't see where you've been. Web sites you visit may still collect information about you. Using a flash drive or the local hard drive makes no difference to them.

An encrypted drive will just help prevent someone who finds your drive from seeing the stuff that's on it, including your browsing history.

There are other applications you can put on a flash drive so all your settings travel with it instead of being stuck installed on a PC somewhere. Browsers, office apps, email, pretty much anything. My favorite is a Telnet and SSH terminal program called PuTTY, modified to save its settings on the flash drive instead of the Windows registry. It's called Porta-PuTTY.

Dave

 

[Dalarast]

I want it.... how does this iron key use on encrypted or "governed" networks? I'm thinking of when I deploy next and want to web browse and don't want the next joe know what I was looking at; but the network is encrypted so I wonder if it would cancel out what I view....

 

[Hinermad]

It's just an encrypted USB drive. It doesn't do anything on or to the network. The only thing encrypted by the drive is what's stored on it.

If you just want to keep the next guy in line from seeing that you were reading HBT, get a portable browser from the link in my prior message (they have several, including Firefox) and install it on any old thumb drive. You don't need an Iron Key for that. Iron Keys are for ICBM launch codes and other things that would be Very Bad if the data fell into the wrong hands.

You might run into problems trying to use a portable browser on a publicly accessible computer. Some places like libraries won't let you stick any sort of removable disk or drive in their machines for fear you might install spyware. I could see DoD managed computers having similar restrictions. If that's true, you won't be allowed to use an Iron Key or any other thumb drive in one.

Dave