USB flash drives are very convenient for transporting your files and documents between computers. Unfortunately, their small size means they are easily lost. If you carry sensitive information on your USB drive, the prospect of a lost USB drive can keep you awake at night. Fortunately, there are secure USB drives on the market that you can use to protect your data.
Almost everyone needs to transfer files from one computer to another at some point. Luckily, a USB flash drive can make this process quick and easy, not to mention they're inexpensive and barely take up space. That being said, USB drives are not very secure. All someone has to do is plug your USB drive into any computer, and your files are laid bare for them to access. This is where secure USB drives come in handy. They have built-in security features to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information you store on your USB drive.
Using the Aegis Secure Key requires users to unlock the drive with a 7-16 digit PIN before connecting the USB drive to their computer. If you do not enter the PIN, the device locks the device, making it unreadable. Also, since the PIN code is entered on the keyboard of the USB drive itself and not via the computer keyboard, there is no chance that your PIN code can be retrieved via data logging software. typing which can be installed on your computer.
Additionally, the Aegis Secure Key USB Drive also protects your data against brute force attempts to access the drive. If a PIN code is entered incorrectly a predetermined number of times, a protocol called Crypto-Erase is implemented. In this case, the device will delete its own encryption key, thereby destroying the ability to decrypt the data.
the Kingston IronKey D300 is so secure that NATO has awarded it a “Restricted Level Certification”. This means NATO is comfortable with its personnel using the IronKey D300 to transport sensitive information. Additionally, the IronKey is FIPS 140-2 certified with hardware-based AES 256-bit encryption, making it approved by the US government. The USB itself is made with a zinc alloy, making it tough enough to be submersible in water up to four feet and withstand temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius (-4 F).
The IronKey D300 also comes with a virtual keyboard. This means that when you plug in the USB, a keyboard appears on the screen. To unlock the USB and access the data, you must enter the PIN code with your mouse via the virtual keyboard. This ensures that any potential keylogging software on the PC will not be able to save the password for the USB key. All data encryption and decryption is done on the drive itself. This means that there is no trace of the USB or its contents on the PC itself. Finally, the IronKey reformats after 10 consecutive unsuccessful attempts to unlock the device.
Need more storage space? Datalocker's DL3 is an external hard drive with state-of-the-art security measures. First, the drive uses 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Additionally, the DL3 has a built-in backlit keypad used to enter a unique alphanumeric PIN code to unlock the device. In order to make the device even safer, the keyboard rotates the keys randomly. This prevents anyone from determining the PIN based on fingerprints or pattern recognition. For added peace of mind, the DL3 has a self-destruct feature that erases all data from the drive if too many unsuccessful PIN code combinations are entered.
The DL3 is a plug-and-play device, meaning no software or drivers are required. All device and admin management is done through the built-in keyboard screen. Therefore, users do not need to worry about potential security issues with the host PC.
The Datalocker DL3 can also be locked to "read only" by an administrator. This means that users can access data on the disk, but cannot modify or delete any of the files. The Datalocker DL3 is available in a variety of storage capacities, starting at 500 GB and in multiple terabytes.
If the price of the Datalocker DL3 has you wondering if you really need an encrypted hard drive, you might want to consider Verbatim Store 'n' Go Secure. Like the DL3, the Verbatim Store'n'Go Secure is a 2.5-inch portable hard drive featuring AES 256-bit hardware encryption and an integrated keypad for PIN locking and device unlocking . The reader also has a self-destruct option that erases all data after numerous unsuccessful entry attempts.
Additionally, the Verbatim Store 'n' Go uses USB-C to ensure fast performance. More importantly, the Store'n'Go Secure is very affordable compared to other secure storage devices. As of this writing, the 1TB model is available for around $120, significantly cheaper than others with similar features.
To further protect your files, you may want to perform full disk encryption in Windows 10. If you always send sensitive text to your friends, you may also consider using PGP encryption.
ContentsWhy do I need a secure USB drive?1. Aegis Secure Key 3.02. Kingston IronKey D3003. Datalocker DL34. Verbatim Store'n'Go Secure
