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Hardware encryption stands guard over your data security. Kingston DataTraveler Vault review.

In the last five years people and companies all over the world experienced a few significant and numerous smaller data security incidents. In short, sensitive data that in the eyes of its owner is priceless is under daily attack. The protection is important especially if you travel a lot and you do not want to be hassled. If you’re looking for a safe and secure way to transport very sensitive data, you should really take a good look at this flash drive. The DataTraveler Vault from Kingston is a state-of-the-art flash drive featuring hardware-based, 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Features:

Robust security is the primary feature that was engineered into the DTV drives. A two-layer security mechanism that features user authentication and hardware-based, real-time data encryption guards sensitive data stored in the privacy zone.

  • Full Encryption – 100 percent of stored data is protected by hardware-based, 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
  • Secure – after 10 consecutive invalid attempts, the DT Vault will lock out the privacy zone; the only option left at this point is to reformat the drive, destroy the encryption key, thus losing all the encrypted data stored in the privacy zone.
  • Easy to use – no admin rights or application installation required

The installation process requires no implementation of a special program for managing the device. Simply just insert the key into a USB port on your computer and start setting the key. After setting the password, the key DTV formats.

Appointed DTV, abbreviation of the file name extending this hardware partition (indelible), contains the instructions and applications suitable for Mac and PC.

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Review of Hardware Encryption vulnerability of Kingston and SanDisk USB flash drives

The Kingston Technology company, a leader in the production of safe USB drives, and one of the first ones that started producing USB flash drive with hardware encryption (Kingston DataTraveler Secure) announced that some of its models of USB flash drives with hardware protection feature are vulnerable. The announcement was posted on the company’s web site saying that with the help of some tools you can access this USB drive (i.e. hack it without a password). News regarding some models of Kingston being prone to cracking is very surprising because these flash drives have been certified in compliance with FIPS 140-2.

Everything started with the fact that the German company SySS published a document entitled “Companies SySS hacked USB flash drive with hardware encryption Kingston certified FIPS 104-2”. In this document they describe in details the authentication protocol between the drive and the program (the user), which they found on the basis of intercepted USB traffic + vulnerability that was discovered. And also some screenshots of the utility, which is embedded in the process of authentication program for USB drives, and as a result – we may enter any password and access will be granted.
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