Encryption/Security Software for Removable Drives

Hey guys,
I carry a portable hard drive around with me and it basically all my personal files (docs, photos, etc.) and I was wondering about encryption software (preferably free) that can run from an external drive and require a password to see what's inside. Anybody familiar with something like that?

Thanks.

TrueCrypt should do what you want. And it's free!

StorageCrypt
Cryptainer
Axcrypt
Steganos Locknote
Blowfish

These are all free.

You can probably find more by just googling "usb"+"encrypt"

Those are good applications but if you want true encryption than I would look for a drive that has hardware-based encryption.

how is hardware-based encryption "true" encryption?

You can easily format the drive with software based encryption, if you have a hardware based drive you'll have two partions, one that is read-only with the software and one that is unlocked once you input the correct passcode.

But for the purpose of not being able to get his info if the drive is stolen the software based encryption will work fine.

It is considered "true" encryption because the data is not encrypted via a computer generated hash which can be guessed if you try hard enough. Hardware encryption changes the data physically using an analog table of rules that are made via analog randomization (direct human control). Which means human randomization is better than computer algorithm.

This just goes to show that computers can't do everything a human can, like be random.

Although hardware encryption is "uncrackable" (Read: nearly uncrackable), the cost to performance is not worth finding hardware solutions for personal use.

If you want to keep your data safe using hardware means, a safe would be just as efficient.