Digital self-destruction for fun and paranoia

How to make any USB drive self-destruct 

“Kim, I’m paranoid about losing my USB drive. Is there any way to make it so if someone steals it, they can’t see or open anything?” — Dave in Denver

Dave, losing a USB drive isn’t just annoying. It’s the secret nightmare of anyone who’s ever stored files they’d rather not see on Reddit 10 minutes later. 

Here’s how to make your flash drive digitally self-destruct.

The secret weapon

VeraCrypt is a free tool that doesn’t merely slap a password on your files. It completely locks down your entire USB with heavy-duty encryption that’s virtually impossible to crack. It works on Mac, Windows and Linux.

🔐 Step 1: Encrypt everything (the right way)

  • First, download VeraCrypt.
  • Install it and encrypt the entire USB drive, not just a folder labeled “Totally Not Important Stuff.” 
  • Pick a strong password. The longer and more random, the better.

Now, if someone plugs your drive into their computer, all they’ll see is a scrambled mess unless they know your password.

💣 Step 2: Hide a secret partition

You can also create a hidden volume inside your encrypted drive. Basically, a vault within a vault.

  • You create two volumes: One decoy vault holds fake but boring files (tax documents, cat photos, recipes you’ll never cook).  
  • If someone forces you to unlock it (think: bossy thief), you open the decoy.

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1 terabit per second

Of data was sent over 750 miles using optical fiber. For context, that’s like streaming around 40 Netflix shows in Ultra-HD at the same time. The real twist? Researchers did it completely securely. How? They built a new “IEAC” system that hides the encryption inside the light signal itself. Pretty genius.

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If you listen to The Kim Komando Show and Kim’s podcasts, you know about digital dangers. Accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi networks can heighten these risks even more.

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Under the radar: A flaw in Microsoft’s Windows BitLocker encryption system could expose your sensitive data, including passwords in unencrypted form. BitLocker is meant to protect your data if your laptop or PC is stolen by encrypting your hard drive. The fix? Update to the latest version of Windows. PSA: I only work with brands I trust to keep you secure. Hit this page to see the five must-have tools I recommend.

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Anker recently admitted to storing images and video feeds in the cloud without users’ knowledge. This popular security cam manufacturer recently didn’t even encrypt the private content. That means anyone could have seen your personal images through your Anker devices.

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Windows and Mac security settings to check now

It’s never good to go too long without checking your security settings. Now and then, you should brush up on your protections. Whether you use a Mac or a PC, all devices are vulnerable to attacks.

On the bright side, there are tons of built-in features you can take advantage of for your safety. For example, Windows Defender can help protect your PC from lurking threats. However, many native protections might be a bit hard to find on your own.

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