| A USB flash drive is a small portable | | | | infected computers. Some specialized |
| storage device that plugs into the USB | | | | flash drives can also function as |
| port on your computer. A USB drive can | | | | digital media or MP3 players. Usually |
| hold anywhere from a few Megabytes up to | | | | these USB drives will have a sounds |
| 64 Gigabytes or more.Because USB flash | | | | output as well as a simple user |
| drives use the USB interface and the USB | | | | interface.Flash drives may also be used |
| mass storage standard, they do not need | | | | for applications and even operating |
| a driver, and are compatible with | | | | systems. If your computer has the |
| virtually every modern computer. Nearly | | | | ability to boot up from your USB port, |
| all modern computers have support for | | | | you can boot up from an operating system |
| USB built into the operating system.USB | | | | installed on your USB flash drive. USB |
| drives range in price from a few | | | | drives can also be used for using |
| dollars, up to several thousand, | | | | applications that do not need to be |
| depending largely on their storage | | | | installed on the host computer. For |
| capacity. USB drives are considered | | | | example, Mozilla Firefox has a version |
| very reliable, and are not subject to | | | | for flash drives. This allows you to use |
| damage as easily as CDs or floppy | | | | your favorite programs on any |
| disks.Flash drives have many uses. The | | | | computer.As technology continues to |
| most common use is transporting files | | | | advance, USB flash drives continue to |
| between computers. Many people use flash | | | | become cheaper, hold more data, and have |
| drives to transport files and data from | | | | more features. Even currently, USB |
| their school or work computers to their | | | | drives are pretty universally considered |
| home computers. Flash drives are also | | | | the best form of portable data storage. |
| very useful for backing up or repairing | | | | |