Is there any way to make a USB flash drive read-only?

[Bluedot]

Is there any way to make my USB flash drive read-only, so that when I plug it into any computer, I can run the files but they cannot be modified (like a CD-ROM)?

I recently plugged in the device to my friend's computer and the Brontok-Washer got deleted (Again!?)

[hellnoire]

Only thing I could suggest would be a dummy file creator. ESET makes one, another one is Seedling's. Might want to think of looking at those.

[Bluedot]

Are you sure that creating dummy files will stop my brontok washer to be deleted by antivirus?

[hellnoire]

Er.. sorry, I thought it was infected by 'brontok washer'... didn't realize it's a cleaner.

Then I can't think of anything right now. Maybe compress it in 7z format so it's not deleted?

[Bluedot]

but most antivirus nowadays are able to scan compressed files

[bonishah88]

You can make your pen drive read only on any PC only if its U3....see raymond's article here : http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2008/10/25/looking-for-a-usb-flash-drive-with-read-only-or-write-protect-switch/

also see this : http://www.mediainformasiku.co.cc/download_software/search-1.php?key=Looking+for+a+USB+Flash+Drive+with+Read+Only+or+Write+Protect+Switch+

something similar to disable write protect on your PC : http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2006/05/07/disable-write-access-to-removable-storage-devices/

and a similar thread previously in the forum : http://forum.raymond.cc/general-forum/9201-protect-any-pendrive-by-enabling-write-protect-read-only.html

[Redfox]

there is a software that make your usb protected. i think that was usb protect.

[hellnoire]

but most antivirus nowadays are able to scan compressed files

7z format is still normally unscanned, same with rar.

[gene]

Also take a look here, - USB Write Protection with NTFS.

[Anakey]

there is a program called API Guard which would allow you to run a program in read only mode, but not the whole usb, unless you configured every app to run as read only

http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=1150