How to Make USB Storage Device Read Only (Usb Write Protect)

Description:

USB storage devices are one of the modes which offers fast way for backing up data and transferring it from one computer to another device. In today’s time virus and malware attacks are rising so much that USB devices are becoming highly prone to these attacks and creating a big threat to the overall computer system. Moreover, in the corporate sector so many employees sharing the same computer use the USB storage devices for moving data around. The risk of getting data lost or stolen away is also increased to a great extent. The only idea to prevent all these issues is to make USB storage devices read only.

Method-1

Making USB Read Only through My Computer with Admin Privileges

Following are the steps through which a USB can be made Read Only.
Step 1:
Login with the administrator account as only administrator account has the privileges to make the USB device Read Only.
Step 2:
Connect the USB device in the USB port on the side of the laptop. In case of desktops connect it in the front or at the back USB port.
Step 3:
Click Start and double click My Computer icon. My Computer will open with available disk drives.
Step 4:
As the USB device is plugged, right-click the USB drive and select Properties.
Step 5:
Click Security tab and choose Edit option.
Step 6:
Locate the section named Write Attributes and click inside the checkbox next to Read Only option.
Step 7:
Click Apply or OK button placed at the bottom of the Properties window; all of the changes will be saved. Once done the USB drive is set as Read Only.

Method- 2

Making USB Read Only through Registry

Following are the steps to make USB drive as Read Only through Registry Directory.

Step 1:
Click Start and select Run and then type regedit. The registry window is displayed.
Step 2:
Once the registry is displayed, follow this sequence.
Click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
Step 3:
Search the sub-directory under Control\ to check if a key named StorageDevicePolicies does exists.
If the key does not exist then create a new one by placing a right-click on Control\ directory. A
Dropdown menu will be displayed. Choose New -> Key.
Step 4:
Check for the entry as WriteProtect. If the entry is absent then, make a right-click on the right window and select New eventually followed by DWORD.There are 2 important values: 0 and 1.
O = write processes and 1 = block the access.
Write the value as 1.
Step 5:
Once done, close the registry and restart the system for changes to take effect. After the system is restarted do a login; insert the USB device into USB drive. The access level will be set as read only.



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