Ironkey: The encrypting, self-destructing USB Flash drive

The Ironkey USB Thumb Drive was originally built for the US military and is now available for all paranoid consumers out there. Besides being encased in waterproof metal it sports an encryption chip that both makes sure to keep the stored data uber-encrypted and (here’s the cool part) physically self-destructs if the user can’t enter the correct password after 10 tries.

Without the encryption chip the data is completely useless, meaning no worries about those private pictures popping up on Facebook if the thumb drive gets stolen.

Available in 1, 2 and 4 GB models.

ThinkGeek: Ironkey USB Thumb Drive ($78.99 – $148.99)
Amazon: IronKey Secure USB Flash Drives ($72 – $147)

Posted by TG September 2nd 2007 | 3 comments » | Permalink

Chris Parsons

Very interesting. I carried my flash drive around for months before I first started to think about security. One day it occurred to me that letter heads and innocent documents could be like a birthday to someone involved in identity theft. By what method / how does the flash memory self destruct?

Chris
http://shop.amstore.co.uk
Tobbe, Freshpilot

I don’t know exactly how the encryption chip self-destructs, but assuming the method works it seems rather protected.

Quote from ThinkGeek:
“It’s built to withstand attacks both virtual and physical. 10 incorrect password attempts, and the encryption chip self-destructs, making the contents of the flash drive totally unreadable. The contents of the drive are filled with epoxy, so if a hacker tries to physically access the chips, he’d more likely damage them instead. Even if he did get access to the memory chips, they’d be worthless without the encryption chip. Electron-shielded, even a scanning electron microscope can’t get inside.”
Koopa

Looks like heavy duty stuff

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