Although several external hard drives integrate hardware password-protected encryption, these are rare compared to insecure drives. If yours is an open drive, you can use a software encryption program to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your data. If you have Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise edition, you already have one such program, called BitLocker Drive Encryption. Other Windows 7 editions must rely on third-party software, such as the free and open-source TrueCrypt program. Such open-source programs may seem less secure, because the source code and encryption algorithm are available for deconstruction, but in fact their security is strengthened by having thousands of programmers thoroughly test the code and identify potential weaknesses. Warnings Writer Bio
