For those that can't afford a $90 flash drive there is a 4GB version for $65 here: http://www.apricorn.com/products/hardware-encrypted-drives/aegis-secure-...
It appears to have the same security as the Carbide one. And while it doesn't have PortableApps on it adding them shouldn't be difficult.
hth
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There are some other big differences. It comes with a 3 year warranty (Carbide has 5 years). It doesn't come with commercial antivirus (Carbide has ClevX DriveSecurity powered by ESET Antivirus with a 5 year license), though you can buy it for other drives for $8.50 per year. It doesn't come with free laser engraving or our sleek custom gift/storage tin. And, lastly, it doesn't help support PortableApps.com, which is one of the big points.
We debated doing a 4GB version as well, but ultimately figured folks wouldn't be as interested as 4GB is kind of small these days. If folks are actually interested, I can look into it.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
One of the specs says "Drive reset on multiple incorrect entries". Does that mean any files saved on it get deleted or forever inaccessible?
Does the drive require a battery?
When does one enter the security code, before the drive is plugged in or after it's plugged in?
Thanks for your time.
Ed
The drive contains an internal Lithium battery so you can enter the code before inserting it into the PC. The battery recharges whenever connected to the PC. In the event that the battery is fully discharged, you can insert it into a PC and enter the code with it inserted.
The files are encrypted using a randomly-generated 256-bit key. This key is stored within the drive's firmware memory area and used to encrypt/decrypt the contents of the flash drive. This firmware memory area is not accessible via the USB interface. This memory can't be physically accessed as diss-assembly of the drive will rip the chips apart (it's filled with epoxy, part of FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification). If the wrong pin-code is entered 10 consecutive times, the brute-force hack defence mechanism is triggered and the current 256-bit key is wiped from the drive's firmware area. This renders all data on the drive inaccessible. A new key can be generated and used to re-populate the drive with new data and the drive can continue to be used. The original key is unknown outside of the drive's firmware area and a new key can not be manually added. The memory chips holding your data can't be physically accessed as diss-assembly of the drive will rip the chips apart.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Is there any indication a wrong pin-code has been entered other than the fact the data is inaccessible? And more importantly is there any indication how many times a wrong code has been entered?
Also what good is the antivirus on the device? If it is plugged into a system infected with a virus the virus will infect the flash drive long before the flash drive's AV will be executed.
Ed
There is a red and a green LED on the device. You press the unlock button and both flash. You enter your pin and hit unlock again. If it is correct, you get green. If not, you get red. There is no indication of how many incorrect entries have been made. You'd have to purposely be trying to hack the device or have forgotten your PIN to enter it wrong 10 times, in which case you wouldn't be able to get at the data anyway (forgotten PIN = bye bye data). Side note, a nice backup is to set a separate admin PIN on your drive and keep it written down in a secure place (like KeePass on your home PC or KeePass Portable in the cloud). Then you can enter that to reset your user PIN if you ever forget it.
Viruses work in different ways. Some will try to infect a stick as soon as you insert it (they'll watch for the insertion event within Windows via an API, the same one we monitor for removals/unsafe ejects). So, yes, those will drop a payload (EXE and infected INF file usually in the root) before the antivirus executes. As soon as you run the antivirus, it will detect and remove that. Other viruses will attempt to infect programs as they are run. The antivirus will detect that as it is happening in realtime. In either situation, you'll immediately know that the machine you're using is infected and you should stop using it. Then, when you plug into a healthy machine, you can clean up your stick.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!