How do I password protect a usb drive without bitlocker?

While reputable encryption tools like VaraCrypt or BitL0cker are secure, using unreliable or outdated software could expose your data to vulnerabilities or malware. Interruptions such as power loss, system crashes, or hardware failures when encrypting USB drive with password or decryption processes can corrupt data or the encrypted volume. Encrypting USB drive with password may not work properly on all devices or operating systems, especially if the encryption software isn't supported or if the drive is moved between different OS environments. If you forget the password, you may permanently lose access to all data on the encrypted drive. Some encryption tools do not offer recovery options.