How To Protect Your Pen Drives From Virus Attacks

Pen Drives were always renowned for their portability. The two inch computer device unlike the defunct floppy disc can store tonnes of information and has always fit snugly into the pockets of people while on the move. In fact pen drives are even being attached to key chains which is an easy indicator of the role technology plays in the dissemination of information. The latest pen drives with the USB 3.0 format allows for faster file transfers with bigger storage facilities. While the USB drive has been a boon for the sharing of information, it does raise a few concerns that all users must keep in mind.

Foremost among them is their vulnerability to virus attacks. Pen Drives are often used in different systems across different homes and offices which make them highly prone to attract all kinds of virus files. Pen drives may always get corrupted when they are injected into systems with out of date antivirus suites. This means that you might not only end up corrupting the files you have just stored on the drive but also make your own desktop vulnerable when you plug your USB drive  into it. Imagine the effects if the virus goes unnoticed for long and finally results in your computer crashing?

All users can avoid such disasters if they take some simple precautions. For starters get yourself a good antivirus package and ensure you regularly update it. Run virus scans at least once a month to ensure your system is clean and safe. Every time you use your pen drive just right click and run a virus check to make sure the USB drive is healthy. Protect your pen drive from excess heat and dust. This enhances durability and increases shelf life.


The option of quick formatting is also a useful tool when it comes to handling your drive. You can do that by right clicking on the pen drive icon on the screen and click format. This will erase all viruses, even those undetected by your system. As a note of caution make sure every time before you format that the drive does not have any important file that you have not saved.