Persistent Bootable USB or DVD

[lmlm]

What is the best program for creating a bootable Flash Drive which will be persistent... i.e. maintain my settings and programs?

Secondly, is there one for making a persistent customized DVD which is read-only? I might prefer this sometimes, when wanting greater security.

Alternatively, can I run a program which will "lock down" the bootable USB flash drive to be read-only after customization? I've heard one can buy expensive flash drives that can do so, but I'm wondering if it can be similarly achieved via either free software or encryption.

Thanks.

[usbtux]

What is the best program for creating a bootable Flash Drive which will be persistent... i.e. maintain my settings and programs?

Secondly, is there one for making a persistent customized DVD which is read-only? I might prefer this sometimes, when wanting greater security.

Alternatively, can I run a program which will "lock down" the bootable USB flash drive to be read-only after customization? I've heard one can buy expensive flash drives that can do so, but I'm wondering if it can be similarly achieved via either free software or encryption.

Thanks.

http://youtu.be/pq2bsTh_dDs How to use unetbootin to make a liveusb - with persistence.

You can use a persistence file with a livedvd but the file could not be on the dvd.

The best way to do this would be by remastering the iso.

You could install trucrypt on the live usb - but this would be a file you can open and would not encrypt the home folder.

You could install to a 8G flash stick and encrypt the home system.
I belive that the next issue of mint will have the option to encrypt the whole file system.