Removable Media: How to Protect Your Devices

Removable media are portable data storage devices that allow users to carry their data with them and access it on different devices without the need for a permanent physical connection. These devices also allow users to transfer data between various devices or systems.

To do this, a person may connect the removable media device to a computer or other compatible system and copy the desired files. Subsequently, the removable media can be disconnected from the source device and reconnected to the destination to access the transferred data and utilize the files as needed.

What Are Examples of Removable Media?

Some examples of removable media include:

• USB drives
• External hard drives
• Memory cards
• Card readers
• CDs
• DVDs

These devices can be a convenient way to transfer large amounts of information, but they do come with risks you should consider. For example, since it’s a physical device, and often a small one, you could lose a piece of removable media if you are not careful, or they could be stolen by a malicious actor. Removable media can be susceptible to malware infections too, which is why you need to be mindful of where you plug in these devices.

And it’s not just the removable media that you own that’s at risk. Cybercriminals could leave their own compromised removable media devices out in the open. They hope a potential victim will plug in the malicious device into their machines, which could give the cybercriminal an opportunity to steal personal information or potentially commandeer the host machine.

How Can I Protect My Devices?

Here are some ways to protect your removable media and thus, your digital life

• Install antivirus software on your devices. When a piece of removable media is plugged in, the antivirus software will scan it to determine whether any malware or viruses reside on the device
• Password-protect removable media if available
• Clear removable media when you are finished using it
• For those of you who are looking to add an extra layer of security at an advanced level, you can protect your removable media with encryption. If available, consider consulting with an IT team to ensure you're taking appropriate measures to protect your data
• Disable any autoplay or autorun functions on your main device. When autoplay is enabled, your main device will immediately activate and run whatever device was just plugged in. So if a USB drive is loaded with malware, and autorun is enabled, your device will activate the USB and the malware is now on your machine
• Never plug removable media into a device you are not familiar with
• Never plug removable media that does not belong to you into a device you own