flip a USB flash drive right into a safe key to your PC

Simply having a password set in your PC in Home windows 11 isn’t a positive option to cease hackers from bodily having access to your PC — sure, it may be bypassed. However there’s one other safety measure you may take.

For an additional layer of safety, you may flip a humble USB drive right into a safe key that can lock and unlock your PC, making it a lot more durable for intruders to achieve entry. Right here’s how…

What to do…

Home windows 11 has a facility to arrange a safe USB key. However I choose to make use of the free third-party app USB Raptor, which provides me a bit extra management over how my key works.

• Get a USB flash drive with none recordsdata loaded on it. I’m utilizing the SanDisk 16GB Extremely Match, which price me $9 on Amazon.
• Obtain and set up USB Raptor and launch the app. It can launch in configuration mode with three steps to finish to arrange your safe key.
• Step 1: Select an encryption password and write it down someplace so that you don’t overlook it.
• Step 2: Plug in your USB flash drive and select the proper drive letter it was allotted. Now click on Create k3y file.
• Step 3: Earlier than you allow USB Raptor, you’ll wish to create a backdoor login in case you lose your key.

Create a backdoor login

• Within the top-right nook of the app click on within the field subsequent to Superior configuration.
• Click on on Lock options within the prime menu. Navigate right down to Backdoor entry.
• Now click on Generate RUID file. This may create a file in your desktop that can can help you bypass the lockscreen should you overlook your password and the USB key’s eliminated out of your PC.

Dominic Bayley / Foundry

Professional tip: If you happen to’re not eager on utilizing USB Raptor, there are quite a few different safety apps to select from. Two others embody Predator and Rohos Logon Key Free. Whereas a few of what you are able to do in these apps is free you’ll have to pay to unlock a full suite of options.

Extra issues to notice:

• Be sure you label your USB flash drive safety key so that you just by no means combine it up with different drives you personal.
• Use a USB drive with a quick learn/write pace to make your login faster.
• Earlier than you create a key, again up your knowledge to make sure you don’t lose it.

If you happen to’ve adopted the steps above, it’s best to now have a safe key that can make your PC safer — in addition to backdoor entry in case something goes unsuitable. If you happen to don’t wish to use your key, merely deactivate it within the app.

Additional studying: flip a USB flash drive into a transportable gaming console