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Corsair locks down USB memory... properly

by Steve Kerrison on 16 August 2007, 18:36

Tags: Flash Padlock, Corsair

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Memory and robust USB drive manufacturer Corsair has announced a new flash drive designed to secure user data, but it doesn't use namby pamby software. Huzzah!

The new Flash Padlock, available in 1GiB and 2GiB flavours, feature a keypad on the stick itself for unlocking it prior to use. Removing the drive from a PC automatically locks the device down again.

Corsair has licensed technology from ClevX to do this. A quick perusal of the ClevX website shows DataLock is what it's using. DataLock features onboard encryption and hides the device from the system until successfully authenticated. None of this partition flagging and lame excuses for encryption we've seen all too often on flash drives. Best of all, it's platform independent.

PIN numbers can be registered online, just in case you lose them, through a service provided by Corsair.

We look forward to hardware hackers getting their hands on Corsair's Flash Padlocks. Then we'll see just how secure they are.

Padlock

More info in Corsair's press release.

HEXUS Forums :: 5 Comments

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Posted by this_is_gav - Thu 16 Aug 2007 20:21
Can you get your data back if the device fails?

Personally I'd never use anything like this - I use flash drives just dumping data on, and it's rarely anything I'd care about if others grabbed it - drivers and the likes - but there must be a market for it. :)
Posted by Steve - Thu 16 Aug 2007 20:42
By “device fails” I presume you mean the locking device? If the flash goes dodgy I reckon that, assuming the lock is transparent to recovery software (after you've put your pin in, of course) that the same rules as normal would apply. If the locking device breaks… well I just don't know!
Posted by this_is_gav - Thu 16 Aug 2007 20:49
Well either to be honest. Mine is generally just a copy of whatever's on a hard drive somewhere, so data loss would make no difference, but some will just save documents on the flash drive and take it to school/work/whatever I guess.

I don't think I've seen a flash drive fail yet, but I'm sure they do, and it'd be nice to have the peace of mind that if the worst were to happen, then you can always get it back… no matter how expensive it might prove.

Of course, it would have a certain irony knowing Corsair drives can survive burning rubber starts, yet be leave you completely buggered by a simple electronic glitch. :P

If you review one in the future it'd be nice if a Corsair representative could comment in the event of either systems failing and where it left you. :)
Posted by clown - Fri 14 Sep 2007 18:57
It has got to be a good idea for some people/jobs. I know someone who found a USB stick with government files on it. He did the right thing trying to get it back. It caused him so much hassle he wished he had just destroyed it.

Reminds me of the first time I found a bunch of keys. The on duty copper at the police station wasn't pleased when I told him why I was there. Neither was I nearly an hour and umpteen forms later upon leaving.
Posted by climbingkid - Sat 15 Sep 2007 10:46
I still think your better of using any removable device and TrueCrypt. Can't say enough about TrueCrypt, its free to use and very very secure.

I basically have an encrypted drive of about half my USB pen. This allows me to quickly dump data onto the pen or mount the encrypted drive and access my secure data.

And the good thing - if you loose it, you dont need to worry no one is getting at your data!

CC