USB Thumbdrive Security

[algrinch]

This looks interesting...
Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock USB Stick



Here is a review from Scot's Newsletter..

I like that it automatically locks 15 seconds after removing from the computer and if you forget the combination the stick is dead.

Al

[LoneWolf]

I'm torn; it would seem to me that a device like Kingston's DataTraveler Secure with 256-bit AES hardware encryption would be as secure, and that typing in a password would be as easy a deterrent. The only plus I can think of is that with most secure thumbdrives, you can still format them if you don't have the password, you just can't access the data without it. The Corsair probably prevents both.

[DrageMester]

The security benefit of a thumbdrive like this is, that even if the computer is compromised and is running keylogger software, it will be unable to "steal" the key used for unlocking the drive. This is especially important if you use the same key for other purposes.

In most situations and for most people it probably won't matter if you use a thumbdrive like this where the key cannot be logged or if you use "normal" tumbdrives with hardware or software encryption where the key can be logged.