Cheap read-only storage media?

I am looking for a cheap read-only storage medium with around 4 GB space, in most of my cases 1 GB is enough. The idea is to make the device bootable and use it as an replacement for a live CD (CD=slow). One example would be an SD card if I wouldn't have found out that they don't have a real physical write lock and the write lock is often realised in firmware, software etc.

Are there maybe special USB sticks that have a real physical write lock? I never know if there is any malware on the system where I use the medium. CD/DVD would be read-only, but it's so damn slow ): Thanks for any hint!

stefan.at.wpf

Posted 2012-07-13T14:14:49.320

Reputation: 1 301

Tape can be made read only. – Ramhound – 2012-07-13T15:12:13.277

how would one do that? using a hardware device that provides only read function? it's not suitable for my use cases, I am curious however ;-) – stefan.at.wpf – 2012-07-13T15:34:02.230

Answers

Yes there are USB drives that come with write protection switch. One such drive is Ritek Slider ID10

http://www.ritek.com/p2-pro4-ez-funky.asp

Fencepost.com has got list of such devices, more details: http://www.fencepost.net/2010/03/usb-flash-drives-with-hardware-write-protection/

Shivaranjan

Posted 2012-07-13T14:14:49.320

Reputation: 1 215

The problem is that many of them are no longer available. – James P – 2012-07-13T14:34:04.593

I found the TrekStor CS 4GB and PQI Cool Drive U339 4GB to be available in my country, both around 10 € (~12 USD). There are even more available e.g. in the US, however they are all more expensive anyway, so I don't miss them ;-) So thanks to Shivaranjan :-) – stefan.at.wpf – 2012-07-13T15:27:55.280

Look as I have done it.

Perhaps it is also a solution for you.

Write protecting by filling up the disk.

Create temporary files to consume all available free space on the drive.

It’s difficult to infect the drive, If there’s no space to create even a small autorun.inf file.

This is probably better than nothing since it will stop some infections.

look here how raymond done it

moskito-x

Posted 2012-07-13T14:14:49.320

Reputation: 144

Malware can simply delete files, and they certainly do exactly this, these authors are not stupid. – Ramhound – 2012-07-13T15:13:05.040

How malware can get onto a stick that has no space not a byte ? – moskito-x – 2012-07-13T15:24:35.853

malware run on host, then infecting usb stick (first deleting files there). – stefan.at.wpf – 2012-07-13T15:30:32.500