Encrypting a Flash Drive = NOT much Usable Space

[Imac Sam]

So I have an old empty USB2 512Mb Flash Drive that I want to store a few sensitive files on. I would like to use Disk Utilities disk encryption feature. But once I do so and erase the drive and specify a strong password, disk Utility reformats it and it comes back with only 180mb free. There are no files on it that I can see . I would like to use the full 512mb on the disk. Is this a bug or does it have a purpose to reduce the drive's empty space like this? At this point I would rather not use any other 3rd party encryption program.

 

[Bear]

There is going to be some disk overhear for any encryption package. Your password decrypts the encryption key that is on the disk and that key is used for the disk encryption.

Small USB Flash Drives are rather inexpensive these days, I suggest you just buy a 4 or 8GB one for the document storage you have in mind.