The MoD has today admitted to losing a couple of USB sticks a month, averaged over the last 4 years. I don't suppose their stats would be exceptional compared to other organisations of comparable size, though of course they are likely to be held up for specific attention because of the nature of some of the data which might have been on some of those sticks. Nor do the figures distinguish between 'lost' and 'stolen' - and I must admit, I've lost more than one USB stick since I've had the option of using them.
However, it did make me wonder about a couple of things.
First, how hard would it be for a computer to default to encrypting the data written to a USB-attached drive?
Second, given that there is no shortage of USB sticks which offer encryption as an option, why isn't their use more prevalent?
What do you think? From your own experience, what (if anything) inhibits you from encrypting the data when you use a USB stick? (Answers welcome via the comment function).
Let me start the ball rolling with a couple of obvious possible answers:
1 - "duh... if I write something to a USB stick it's because I want to pass it quickly and conveniently to someone else... why would I encrypt that?"
2 - "I don't care... I've never put anything on a USB stick which I considered to be secret - in fact, there isn't even any secret stuff on my computer anyway..."
Over to you...
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