[Discuss] USB thumbdrive, Linux only usage: FAT vs NTFS vs other? TRIM support?

[Jerry Feldman]

On 02/28/2013 12:00 AM, Rich Pieri wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:55:29 -0600
> Derek Martin <invalid at pizzashack.org> wrote:
>
>> Additionally, if your work desktop is shared, i.e. other users can log
>> into it over the network, doing this will enable ANYONE to access all
>> your files on the usb disk.  From their desktop.  Without you knowing.
> How is this at all different from FAT32 or exFAT?
>
USB thumb drives are inherently insecure without encryption. It does not 
matter if the file system is FATxxx or ext2. Although I always carry one 
with me, we are not permitted to use them at work. (And yes, the company 
hands them out free at marketing events).

But, with a Linux file system, then the drive is as secure as a local 
drive (Linux permissions).

My personal policy is that I use thumb drives maybe as sneaker net when 
needed or to copy WPA data (low risk for me since I would change the WPA 
if I lost the drive). I never use it for system passwordsor company 
confidential documents.

-- 
Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id:3BC1EB90
PGP Key fingerprint: 49E2 C52A FC5A A31F 8D66  C0AF 7CEA 30FC 3BC1 EB90