I have a San and a Cruzer flash drive that have the U3 Smart login/password feature set up in Windows. How can I access some picture and data files saved in them using the openSuse 11.1 Gnome desktop?
Your kind assistance will be greatly appreciated.
From the FAQ in the support section of U3’s Website (U3 smart drive):
- Does U3 support Vista? Windows 98? Mac?
The U3 Launchpad supports the following operating systems:
* Windows Vista (you need to have U3 Launchpad version 1.4 or higher. If you do not have version 1.4 of the U3 Launchpad click here to learn how to check for updates to the U3 Launchpad. * Windows XP, all service packs * Windows 2000, SP4
Mac OS, Linux, Unix and the older versions of Windows OS are not supported. On these systems your U3 smart drive will function as a regular USB flash drive
So … at least until someone “hacks” the U3 encryption, I guess you have a choice: use it for Windows only, or use your Sandisk as a regular flash drive (i.e., get rid of the U3 stuff). As a matter of principle, I won’t use U3, because it’s a direct vendor tie-in to Microsoft. (Another case of, “you must have Windows to fully enjoy this.”) But that’s just me.
But … IF it was me … I’d:
go into Windows
copy those files into a folder on a local hard drive
format and remove the U3 stuff from the flash drive
… and then write everything back to the flash drive as ordinary files.
Never mind the tie-in to Microsoft - as far as I understand it these things silently install software on your computer without permission.
If you downloaded one, you’d call it malware and reach for hijackthis.
Format it with maximum prejudice.
No doubt there are suitable cross platform freeware encryption tools that you could use to get the benefits, without this underhand behaviour. Anyone?
You’re right! I didn’t know that.
Yuck!
As for an encryption system that works with Linux, True Crypt, maybe?
That looks clever, and would certainly fit the bill. Cheers.