UPDATE: USB Scrub by Nexcopy now supports Win7 32/64bit
Did you know Windows will make over 260 registry entries with a single enumeration of a USB stick? This means for those with multiple flash drives your registry will get extremely cluttered and bogged down.
With flash drives dirt cheap these days, you’ll find at least a couple dozen going into your computer through the year. That would be over 6,240 registry entries.
USB Scrub is a free utility which performs a deep cleaning of those unused drivers and registry edits.
We gave USB Scrub a try, and it worked great. We went from enumerating a single USB stick in 45 seconds to enumerating that stick in less that 12 seconds.
In addition, if you have a USB stick that doesn’t perform correctly or the Windows OS doesn’t see it, chances are the USB Scrub will clear up those problems and your drive will work once again. This is because a registry entry can become corrupt and simply clearing it out will resolve your issue.
So lets take a closer look.
Using RegShot [a free application which takes a snap shot before and after an event and compares only the changed registry values] I took a snap shot before and after a USB stick was connected and ejected. The result was this:
78 Registry Keys where created
183 Registry Values where added
261 Registry edits in total!
Here is a snap shop. Click the image to get the full text file.
There is no doubt Netbooks are becoming more and more popular. The problem with Netbooks if your computer goes south, no optical drive is available to restore your computer. You either have to A) buy an optical drive, burn a bootable backup or B) call the manufacturer and request a disc.
Windows 7 is addressing this process with the option to burn a bootable USB stick with your on-line purchase. Well, at least that’s the rumor.
“The ‘Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool’ is used when you buy a down-loadable version of the software from Microsoft’s online store. During the download process, buyers are given the option of creating a bootable USB stick or burning a DVD.”
So now the question becomes, should a user be required to
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Here at GetUSB.info we are a fan of the USB key logger technology. After all, what better way to find out what employees, girlfriends and such are doing with their spare time. Especially with all the social network, it’s important to know what is, or is not, being said about you.
We have reported about USB key loggers before, but this one is especially nice with the old school PS/2 connector. Great for the older machines.
The device comes with 2MB of internal memory, but check it often as that amount of space will be filled quickly.
Pricing is a bit different depending on the connection type you need. $60-$75.
Here is the USB key logger product page.
Reminder from UberGizmo.
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As Windows 7 is set to release sometime in October, today we heard there is an update to USB support. Honestly, I don’t know exactly what it means, but the quote is, “adding new USB and drive sharing support options…”
Does this mean you can set a USB stick as a shared device, maybe there is a default USB wireless support built in, I’m not sure, but maybe the following information will help.
The information I have is simply a download link to try out the “release candidate” for Windows 7. Here it is. If you have time, give it a download and try…see what the USB sharing is all about. I’d do it myself, but honestly…I’m too knee deep in other projects at the moment.
As a quick highlight, the Windows 7 requires an additional 1GB of RAM and 15GBs of disk space. We’ve also learned that XP virutal desktop will be preloaded on most new PCs and clearly an option for those who upgrade. Meaning, any software package built around .NET and XP will have full support under Windows 7. Microsoft did this so that large corporations don’t have to worry about software updates with an OS update. Just focus on the OS update and the software will still work. BUT – Windows 7 is built on Vista code [scary] so only time will tell.
Source:Â ARN.
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There are some fundamental differences between USB copy protection and USB encryption to files on a flash drive. I have seen many companies confuse and muddy the terminology between the two. It’s time to clear things up and explain the difference.
In short; USB copy protection secures a file or set of files so they cannot be copied – thus copy protection. USB encryption scrambles the source files so they cannot be read unless you decrypt them. Take a moment and think about this…there is a BIG difference.
Encryption is the process of scrambling files and data so they cannot be accessed unless a password or key is supplied to reassemble the content and put everything back together. This process is known as decryption.
The fundamental use for USB encryption is to protect files and data in the event the USB stick is lost or stolen.
Where encryption and USB copy protection differ is with “encryption” once you have the password you can
Don’t get too excited, the flash drive doesn’t blow up and take everyone with it, nor does it spit out harmful bio chemicals for mass destruction. Rather, the Fujitsu USB flash drive will self destruct using a much less flamboyant method…it will erase itself.
The drive is a prototype design whereby the internal workings include a processor and battery and after a certain amount of time, the data on the stick will erase itself. Or self destruct.
But just incase this method is a bit too hard-core, Fujitsu has an alternate method for data protection. The second method includes an auto erase feature if the USB flash drive is used to copy files to an unauthorized workstation or server. Using the Fujitsu re-direct software as the backbone, it can prevent data from being uploaded to file-sharing networks, sent as e-mail attachments, or printed, according to Fujitsu.
Since this is just a prototype you’ll need to wait a bit longer, but for those who are impatient, GetUSB.info knows of one flash drive which already offers USB Copy Protection. The drive will also Copy Protect PDF files, flash, MPG and a host more multimedia files.
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Corsair put an interesting twist on backup technology. They have devised a one touch USB flash drive backup adapter. The adapter has a female USB port sitting on the top of the device. This is where you can plug in any flash drive. The adapter then connects to your PC via miniUSB cable.
At this point, the USB backup adapter is ready to suck information off your PC and stuff it onto your flash drive, with the push of a single button.
Of course you need to set some configuration options in the NovaBackUp software, but once set – you’re ready at any moment.
“Our research indicated that over 80% of users have a My Documents folder of less than 64GB, and more than 85% need to regularly transport less than 64GB of data between different PCs. This shows that USB flash drives are an efficient method of backing up your data, and with high-capacity USB flash drives, there is still plenty of room for your favorite music, photos and even movies,” said Jim Carlton, Corsair’s vice president of marketing.
This is also an excellent marketing tool to encourage users to break away from their 2 year old 1GB drives and saddle up for a larger 16GB, 32GB or 64GB flash drive.
I for one, am a lazy backer-upper and a device like this might encourage me to be more vigilante about data backups.
The Corsair USB backup adapter has an MSRP of $35.
Corsair product page.
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USB sticks come in many different sizes, shapes and colors, but today is the first time we’ve seen a custom USB drive with the look and feel of RAM memory. The Segon Turbo drive is another release from Brando on unique USB shapes.
Brando claims it’s ingenious and exquisite, which I think is a bit too much on credit, but definitely a different look. Too bad you can’t use the PCI looking slot to boost your real RAM needs.
The Segon Turbo drive includes a push-pull design for the USB connector making it a good portable product with protection to the connector.
Some notable software functionality comes preloaded on the IC controller chip, such as:
Security Manager
Boot Manager
Flash Mail Manager
PC Lock Manager
Bookmark Manager
Security Folder
Available in a 2 and 4GB sizes, starting at just $12.
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Backing up your data is probably the #1 item most computer users neglect, ignore or simply don’t pay attention to. Most times it’s because the software is too difficult or you don’t have the right storage device to back up your data [sat DVD, DLT tape etc]. Well, this article should change your mind.
ClickFree has a very unique and convenient solution for data backup. Using their USB cable and embedded backup software [embedded on the cable] you can backup any computer to your USB hard drive, USB stick or anything else USB.
No software to install or setup. Works right out-of-the-box. Just plug the Clickfree Transformer into the computer, then plug any external USB hard drive into the other end of the Transformer and it converts the external hard drive into a Clickfree backup drive. Automatically starts, finds, organizes and backs up all of your data onto the external hard drive.
The ClickFree software is robust enough to support over 400 file types. Here is the category breakdown for you:
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It’ is very possible many of you have left a USB stick in a work computer or friends computer simply because you forgot to pull it out upon leaving. To help in those moments of lapsed memory, there is a utility that take care of your temporary Alzheimers. The Flash Drive Reminder utility is a Windows based application and simply reminds you the USB stick is still plugged in when you log off or shut down.
The tiny app takes up very little space, autoruns from your USB stick and displays a pop up window upon connection. This is where the application confirms the device is connected and you have the option to turn off the reminder or hide it until logging off or shutting down. At which time, the software will throw up another pop-up windows telling you to grab your USB stick.
There is a “quiet” version which eliminates the original pop-up window [nice] but will definitely display when you go to power down.
The Flash Drive Reminder utility is free for the taking.Â
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Infra Recorder has a open source CD and DVD burning software package which may be configured to run as a USB portable application. You can download the application for free, then make some edit changes in the properties box and run from a USB stick.
I’m sure the first question you have is, why burn a CD or DVD if you already have a USB stick. Well, maybe you are just slow to transition to 100% USB, or maybe you need to burn some video files at the parents house and don’t want to hassle with figuring out if they’ve got software to support the job.
Press Release:Â Cryptzone, the Nordics leading Data Leak Prevention provider, today announced the release of their new USB flash drive encryption software, Secured eUSB 4.0.
Secured eUSB 4.0 is the first product to be integrated in the new version of Cryptzone´s centrally managed security platform, the Simple Encryption Platform (SEP) 4.0.
Providing security to USB drives is a growing problem for many companies but with Cryptzone’s solution, companies can now take control of this problem. Secured eUSB can convert any existing USB flash drive into a secure means of transporting sensitive data.
The new version of Secured eUSB, version 4.0, will enable users to encrypt, decrypt, compress and password-protect personal files – even entire folders – stored on USB drives. Operating on the Windows platform
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Here at GetUSB.info we are a fan of the 
