USB Simple Encryption

[neonplanet40]

Hi Folks,

I use a USB flash drive when working to store my files (which I back up when home).

However, A few times, I have forgot my usb drive and left it plugged into the computer at work. Ideally, I want software which auto locks the drive when I log out of a machine. This isn't an NSA style data hoard or anything. I just want something that protects files from being accessed if I forgot the usb with a simple pin or password.

I thought that Bitlocker would do this (as I use windows PC's and I'm unable to install software on my work machine as our user accounts don't have admin privileges).

However, when I switch user, or log out of a work machine, the usb drive remains unlocked for new users. This to me is bizarre. Surely it should lock automatically when a log out or user switch is initiated?

Is there something I am missing here regarding Bitlocker as it seems a massive oversight?

Or, are there alternatives that would be better? Bearing in mind I can't install software on work machines - so Veracyrpt wasn't an option as it requires to either be installed, or - if portable mode- admin privileges.

Thank you

I should also say that I have considered hardware encryption (via encrypted usb drives), but given the size (128gb) they are too expensive.

[Saracen999]

Only thing I've used even close to that, I think, is a Samsung T7 USB SSD. It needs, IIRC, software on ONE machine to configure initially and maintain, but then, doesn't need anything installed n other machies. Access is via built-in fingerprint scanner (hence the softare on one machine). Fast (for it's age), and (so far) reliable (in my case, at least but not exactly cheap. I'm not even sure the smaller ones are stlll avaiable, or that the newer T9 version has the Touch (fingerprint) option. Beyond that, dunno.