Encrypt

"Encrypt: Is it necessary to encrypt my external drive?"

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Necessity to Encrypt an External Drive:

Yes: If you are storing personal info on it (i.e TAX forms or Social Security Info), then test it would be necessary.

No: If you are just looking to store data for temporary use, then no it would not be necessary.

IMPORTANT: If you encrypt this drive, you'd be required to use a password to access it. So, when created, keep a handwritten, hardcopy list of the password, in case you forget it. If you forget it, then it will be fully inaccessible, until you get the password back. Store the record in a private location that only YOU are knowledgeable of, and only YOU have access to.

Sanity0507 wrote:

Is it necessary to encrypt my external drive?

If the drive is always local, always in a controlled and secure environment, and never contains sensitive data, no.

If the device might be lost or stolen ir damaged, or might contain sensitive data, encryption is advisable.

Why encrypt? You don’t always get the option to erase a failed or lost or stolen device.

Which can then leak data.