5 non-standard ways to use USB sticks

Physical key to lock the computer

Computer safety is becoming a real problem for people who travel a lot and have to work in airports, cafes and other public places. Usually the most thefts take place there. How can your laptop protect your USB stick? By itself - nothing, but in conjunction with special software, it will become a real key that unlocks the computer, like a lock.

The software utility locks the computer immediately after removing the flash drive and takes a photo of the one who is trying to use it. If you enter the wrong password, the Predator will make a loud sound that will definitely grab your attention.

Alternatively, you can use another similar solution -. It is somewhat simpler, but performs the same tasks.

Security system

The security system based on the free utility is somewhat similar to the protection from the previous paragraph: a flash drive is also used as a trigger, but the principle of operation is slightly different.

A flash drive is not just inserted into a laptop, but also attached in some way to a table or other relatively stationary objects. After locking the Windows screen (Win + L) or closing the laptop lid, the system goes into security mode, and if someone tries to pick up your computer by pulling out the USB flash drive, a loud and nasty siren will turn on, which will most likely scare the intruder and force him into panic run away. The alarm is turned off, as you probably already guessed, by entering the password for your account.

Password storage for wireless networks

Writing Wi-Fi passwords on a piece of paper is the last century, you must agree. Especially considering that each of us has several flash drives lying around, which can be successfully used for these purposes.

For this we only need a couple of commands. Press Win + R and paste the following code into the window that opens:


netsh wlan show profiles

Next, we find the name of the desired network and substitute it into this command, adding also the drive letter of the flash drive, where the XML file should be saved:


netsh wlan export profile "network_name" key = clear folder = "drive_letter"

When the need arises, the wireless password can be restored by simply copying the previously saved file with the following command:


netsh wlan add profile filename = "xml_file_path" user = all

The same flash drive can be used to pass the password to your Windows laptop guests.

Disk with portable software

Portable applications are programs that run without installation and have been around for quite some time. The most famous portal where you can download such applications is.

Browsers, graphic editors, word processors, players - there are collected tools for a variety of needs. Create one day a magic flash drive with such applications, and all the tools you need will always be at your fingertips. There are both individual programs and whole sets of applications for every taste.

Live-CD with Linux distribution

For cases when you have to work on a computer not only without applications, but also without an OS, as well as situations when you need to provide "first aid", it is useful to burn a Live CD with some Linux distribution to one of your flash drives.

Such a flash drive is quite simple and will help out more than once when you need to restore the OS or files from a damaged computer, it will be useful for various tests and much more.