Removable Memory Buying Guide
Perhaps one of the most impressive technologies developed over the past ten years is the concept of removable memory. In the early days of the computer, removable memory was confined to floppy disks 
with CD's being the innovative way of moving data from one place to another. Now, things are much more efficient. If you told someone even five years ago that you could purchase a removable memory stick with 1GB of storage for less than £5, they would have said you'd gone mad. These recent innovations make removable media even more attractive because moving large amounts of files has never been so easy and cost-efficient.
Types of Removable Memory
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USB Flash Drives
Commonly referred to as thumb drives, USB flash drives are quite possibly the most popular removable memory solution. They are incredibly compact, and some even come on a key chain so you can bring them everywhere without forgetting them. - Their capacity currently tops out at a whopping 64GB, which rivals the hard drive on some laptops! Needless to say, there is certainly a USB flash drive with a storage capacity to fit your needs.
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Memory Cards
A memory card, or flash memory card, is a solid-state electronic flash memory data storage device used with digital cameras, cell phones, music players, video game consoles, and other electronics. - Because of their vast applicability, many different types of memory cards exist.
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External Hard Drives
External hard drives are the pinnacle of removable storage because they offer as much (sometimes more) storage space than your computer. They are a bit cumbersome for transport, but are a great desktop companion for media junkies. Some are designed to be portable with your laptop. - Features to consider include:
- High-RPM drives (for faster access time)
- Drive encryption (for data protection)
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CD / DVD
CDs and DVDs are a great removable memory solution for those who need to give data to others permanently. They are inexpensive to purchase and are capable of storing a considerable amount of data, especially on DVDs. Check your computer's hardware specifications to determine what type of CD and/or DVD burning capabilities you have. - CD/R or DVD/R- Allows data to be written to the CD or DVD only once.
- CD/RW or DVD/RW- Allows data to be written, erased, and re-written.
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Removable Memory Security Tips
- Know who uses your removable memory device, and where it is being connected.
- Many viruses are being modified to spread to removable storage devices (especially USB flash drives) to bypass anti-virus and security software.
- Simply knowing where your device has been and who uses it is an excellent way to determine how likely you are to be infected. For example, if you lend your flash drive to a mate who uses peer-to-peer file sharing you are at a higher risk of getting a virus than loaning it to someone who understands how to use a computer safely.
- Scan all removable memory devices with anti-virus software prior to accessing them.
- This is good practice when opening anything you are given on your computer, and the same holds true for removable storage.
- Turn off the autoplay feature in windows that automatically reads removable storage when plugged if you are frequently receive data from numerous people on removable memory (like teachers)
- Open Windows Explorer by pressing the Windows + "e" key.
- Right-click the desired CD-ROM and select Properties from the menu.
- Select the AutoPlay tab.
- Select each item from the pulldown list and for the Action to perform, select "Take no action" to disable autorun, or pick the appropriate action to take if enabling autorun.
- Select OK.
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