Flash drive offers keypad PIN security

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Corsair Memory Incorporated has launched its new Flash Padlock drive: a USB flash drive secured with a five-button PIN-based "padlock" built into the drive itself. The PIN interface forces the user to hit the unlock button and the chosen code (up to 10 digits) before accessing the drive. The drive requires no special software to operate. Flash Padlock drives also don’t need a separate partition for the security driver, as password-based drives do. To avoid the code being forgotten, users are invited to register their PIN code on Corsair's Web site. If the PIN is forgotten, the code can then be retrieved by supplying a valid e-mail address and password.

Beyond describing the PIN system, Corsair's description of the drives inner security workings, and any use of encryption, is vague. Presumably, the PIN is stored on a physically separate memory location within the drive. Flash padlock costs $29.95 and $39.95 for the 1GB and 2GB capacities on offer, and can be used on Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Apple OS X.

View: Product Details

News source: ComputerWorld

(1 reply) #1 ThaCrip on 20 Aug 2007 - 02:22

why not just use TrueCrypt (software encryption) instead?

i aint no security expert but that seems better besides the hardware based stuff this memory stick offers.

#1.1 Croquant on 20 Aug 2007 - 08:16

These units are meant to add a layer of physical-access security, not supplant software encryption products. Don't know the PIN? No data for you unless you wanna smash it open, play around with the flash chips, and hope you can access the data with a jury-rigged interface.

#2 TRC on 20 Aug 2007 - 02:31

My combination is 12345. Don't tell anyone.

I agree, just use TrueCrypt. This just seems like a gimmick to sell more expensive drives.

#3 edbro on 20 Aug 2007 - 02:32

Because TrueCrypt doesn't run on every machine. You have to have Admin rights on the host machine to run it portably from the USB drive.

#4 brent3000 on 20 Aug 2007 - 03:26

and u dont need to encrypt all the data every time something new is added.... this will not encrypt the data just put it behind a hardware password// that and software is abit simpler to go round that hardware... isnt it?

(2 replies) #5 pyehac on 20 Aug 2007 - 05:08

Next related headline: Corsair's website hacked, dozens of people's padlock USB flash drives at risk.

#5.1 ]SK[ on 20 Aug 2007 - 06:06

Why would that mean peoples USB drives are at risk?

#5.2 Croquant on 20 Aug 2007 - 08:16

RTFA

#6 unksi on 20 Aug 2007 - 09:02

The passwords are associated only with emails, so no.

#7 Solidstinch on 21 Aug 2007 - 20:22

i just cover my pc in 4 inches of cement everytime i leave it and that keeps most people out

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