Overview
This guide walks you through the encryption process for a Western Digital (WD) external storage device. Per USC policy, you must encrypt external storage devices before you can store USC data on them.
Be aware that if you forget or lose the password you create when encrypting the device, DTS cannot recover it.
For more information about storage devices at USC, refer to our guide, Using an external storage device.
Downloading WD Security
If the external storage device is newly purchased, the WD Security installer file will already be on the device when you connect to and open the device on your computer. If the device was recently formatted and the installer does not appear, you can download it from the WD website:
Setting up WD Security on a Windows PC
Encrypt the device
Quick guide
Step 1: Download WD Security if it is not present on the device
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open File Explorer. In the left panel, click the device name to open it.
- If the WD Security installer is present, double-click to open it, and skip down to the installation instructions (Step 2: Install WD Security).
- If the WD Security installer is not present:
- Go to the Western Digital website. Next to WD Security, click Download for Windows.
- Open File Explorer and go to the Downloads folder. Right-click WDSecurity_WIN.zip and select Extract All.
- Click Extract.
- Double-click the WDSecurity_WIN folder.
- Double-click WDSecuritySetup.exe.
Step 2: Install WD Security
- Select the checkbox I have read and agree to the EULA and WD's Privacy Statement, and click Install.
- If prompted, type the following credentials and click Yes:
- Email address: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
- The installation takes less than 2 minutes. Click Finish.
Step 3: Use WD Security to password-protect the device
- In the Start menu search bar, type WD Security and open the application.
- Create a password, and click Set Password. You can optionally select Enable auto unlock for this computer.
- The device is now password-protected. Be aware that neither Western Digital nor DTS can retrieve your password. To prevent password loss, you can save your password in 1Password, a USC-approved password manager.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
Step 1: Download WD Security if it is not present on the device
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open File Explorer. In the left panel, click the device name to open it.
- If the WD Security installer is present, double-click to open it, and skip down to the installation instructions (Step 2: Install WD Security).
- If the WD Security installer is not present:
- Go to the Western Digital website. Next to WD Security, click Download for Windows.
- Open File Explorer and go to the Downloads folder. Right-click WDSecurity_WIN.zip and select Extract All.
- Click Extract.
- Double-click the WDSecurity_WIN folder.
- Double-click WDSecuritySetup.exe.
Step 2: Install WD Security
- Select the checkbox I have read and agree to the EULA and WD's Privacy Statement, and click Install.
- If prompted, type the following credentials and click Yes:
- Email address: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
- The installation takes less than 2 minutes. Click Finish.
Step 3: Use WD Security to password-protect the device
- In the Start menu search bar, type WD Security and open the application.
- Create a password, and click Set Password. You can optionally select Enable auto unlock for this computer.
- The device is now password-protected. Be aware that neither Western Digital nor DTS can retrieve your password. To prevent password loss, you can save your password in 1Password, a USC-approved password manager.
Unlock the device
Once the device is encrypted, its files are not accessible without the password. You should be automatically prompted for the password when you connect the device to your computer. If you are not, you can unlock it with the steps below:
Quick guide
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open File Explorer. In the left panel, click WD Unlocker.
- Double-click WD Drive Unlock.exe.
- If prompted, type the following credentials and click Yes:
- Email address: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
- Type your password and click Unlock Drive.
- The device is now unlocked, and you can open it by clicking its name.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open File Explorer. In the left panel, click WD Unlocker.
- Double-click WD Drive Unlock.exe.
- If prompted, type the following credentials and click Yes:
- Email address: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
- Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
- Type your password and click Unlock Drive.
- The device is now unlocked, and you can open it by clicking its name.
Setting up WD Security on a Mac
Encrypt the device
Quick guide
Step 1: Download WD Security if it is not present on the device
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open Finder. In the left panel, under "Locations," click the device name to open the device.
- If the WD Security installer is present, double-click to open it, and skip down to the installation instructions (Step 2: Install WD Security).
- If the WD Security installer is not present:
- Go to the Western Digital website. Next to WD Security, click Download for Mac.
- Open Finder and go to the Downloads folder. Double-click WD Security Installer.dmg.
- Double-click the exec folder.
- Double-click the WD Security Installer icon.
- Click Open.
Step 2: Install WD Security
- Select the checkbox I have read and agree to the EULA and WD's Privacy Statement, and click Install.
- If prompted, type your Mac password and click OK. This is the account name and password you use to log into your computer, and may differ from your USC NetID passphrase.
- The installation takes less than 2 minutes. Click Finish.
Step 3: Use WD Security to password-protect the device
- In Finder, go to the Applications folder. Double-click WD Security.
- Click Open.
- Create a password, and click Set Password. You can optionally select Enable auto unlock for this computer.
- The device is now password-protected. Be aware that neither Western Digital nor DTS can retrieve your password. To prevent password loss, you can save your password in 1Password, a USC-approved password manager.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
Step 1: Download WD Security if it is not present on the device
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open Finder. In the left panel, under "Locations," click the device name to open the device.
- If the WD Security installer is present, double-click to open it, and skip down to the installation instructions (Step 2: Install WD Security).
- If the WD Security installer is not present:
- Go to the Western Digital website. Next to WD Security, click Download for Mac.
- Open Finder and go to the Downloads folder. Double-click WD Security Installer.dmg.
- Double-click the exec folder.
- Double-click the WD Security Installer icon.
- Click Open.
Step 2: Install WD Security
- Select the checkbox I have read and agree to the EULA and WD's Privacy Statement, and click Install.
- If prompted, type your Mac password and click OK. This is the account name and password you use to log into your computer, and may differ from your USC NetID passphrase.
- The installation takes less than 2 minutes. Click Finish.
Step 3: Use WD Security to password-protect the device
- In Finder, go to the Applications folder. Double-click WD Security.
- Click Open.
- Create a password, and click Set Password. You can optionally select Enable auto unlock for this computer.
- The device is now password-protected. Be aware that neither Western Digital nor DTS can retrieve your password. To prevent password loss, you can save your password in 1Password, a USC-approved password manager.
Unlock the device
Once the device is encrypted, its files are not accessible without the password. You should be automatically prompted for the password when you connect the device to your computer. If you are not, you can unlock it with the steps below:
Quick guide
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open Finder. In the left panel, under "Locations," click WD Unlocker. Then, double-click WD Drive Unlock.
- Type your password and click Unlock Drive.
- The device is now unlocked, and you can open it by clicking its name.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Connect the external device to your computer.
- Open Finder. In the left panel, under "Locations," click WD Unlocker. Then, double-click WD Drive Unlock.
- Type your password and click Unlock Drive.
- The device is now unlocked, and you can open it by clicking its name.
Additional WD software
WD Security is the only software you are required to install on a Western Digital device. You can optionally install additional software such as WD Drive Utilities, which gives you added functionality, such as the ability to erase and format the drive, and run drive diagnostics. If the WD Drive Utilities installer file is not present on the storage device, you can download it from the WD website:
