What is write protection?

What Is Write Protection on a Memory Card?

• Answer:

  Many people use memory cards and flash memory devices to back up and store important information. Since memory cards are prone to getting lost and stolen, most memory cards come with a form of write protection to prevent the content stored on the device from being accessed or modified in any way. Write protection comes in many forms and can be enabled or disabled in a few simple steps. Definition A write protection system is any sort of system that prevents an unauthorized user from accessing, viewing, editing or removing the data stored on a memory card device. Write protection can also be used to prevent the accidental deletion or modification of the data stored on the memory card by an authorized user. Depending on the type of write protection used with the memory card, the write protection may be difficult to remove or as easy as flipping a switch. Switch One type of write protection on memory cards is found in the form of a write protection switch. To enable write protection on these types of memory cards, simply slide the switch to the "Lock" position. To disable write protection, slide the switch to the "Unlock" position. This type of write protection is often found on the side of SD memory cards and xD-Picture cards. Sony's Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick Pro, however, feature the write protection switch on the back side of the card. Sticker Another type of write protection found on memory cards is in the form of a write protection sticker. To enable write protection on these types of memory cards, place the write protection sticker over the memory card's write protection pad. To disable write protection, remove the sticker from the write protection pad. SmartMedia Cards use this type of write protection. Read Only Another form of write protection comes in the form of the "Read Only" option in the Properties menu of the file on the memory card. To enable this form of write protection, insert the memory card into a computer, right-click on the file you want to write protect and select the "Properties" option from the context menu. In the file's Properties menu, place a check mark next to the "Read Only" option. To remove this form of write protection, remove the check mark next to the "Read Only" option.