Ventoy plus a bunch of Linux live and recovery ISOs. Might also be a good idea to throw in a KeePassXC standalone executable and a vault with some of your most critical passwords.
this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2025
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I have a 128GB SanDisk stick with USB-A and C.
It contains a text file with my phone number in case I lose my keys.
Flash drives with USB A and C are wonderful. Transfer data to PC and phone, and mine technically works as a charger if I plug it into a PC and my phone at the same time. Although I'm not sure if that's aan intended use case.
It contains a text file with my phone number in case I lose my keys.
Two points:
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You can get a metal engraved tag with somewhere to reach; that's probably more-accessible to anyone (who may or may not be willing to stick a random USB stick into a computer). I'd also bet on it lasting longer; flash storage does lose contents eventually.
https://www.amazon.com/engraved-key-tags/s?k=engraved+key+tags
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You might not want to attach personal identity information to your keys, as if someone does get them, it can also give information like address stuff. IIRC, there are organizations whose purpose is to just receive lost keys and then forward them or contact a given account. That way, the finder doesn't know what he's just gotten keys to unlock, but he can still get them back to you.
kagis
https://www.mykeyport.com/pages/keyportid-lost-and-found-finder-tags
https://returnmetags.com/products/classic-keytags
(for Canada) https://www.waramps.ca/ways-we-help/key-tags/
I really just put the text file that because ... might as well, it's not the primary purpose.
You might not want to attach personal identity information to your keys
I very deliberately only put down my phone number. Should be pretty hard to link that to my address. I think the only organizations that have both are my ISP, bank and workplace.
Should be pretty hard to link that to my address.
You might try plugging your phone number into Google and see what comes up, if you've never tried. In the US, there are a number of data brokers that can get ahold of personal information from various places and cross-correlate that data, and phone directory places that buy data and will put pages up to be indexed by Google. If your information hasn't gotten out one way or another, great, but...
lel I'm a Latino in the US so I have to carry my US passport in case masked federal police snatch me into a van. I'm very careful about what I have on my phone. No way do I want to give those people a USB with anything on it.
"the USB has some kind of weird software on it, better detain him for questioning."
I'm sorry that this is your reality. The place is a mess...
A live linux distro for start, emergency medical information, encrypted container for whatever files you want to take with you. I still wouldn't carry very sensitive information with you. Banking info, password lists, private partner photos, should all stay at home.
A couple of bootable linux ISOs probably.