Securing your data: Encrypted USB flash drives -- part 2

Data loss is bad enough, but having that data fall into someone else's hands -- especially if they happen to be the wrong hands -- can be disastrous. While in an ideal we shouldn't be losing data in the first place, we should always hope for the best but plan for the worst.

While I'm not likely to lose my desktop or notebook systems -- I'm careful with my stuff -- one thing that I'm always worried about losing are USB flash drives. They're small and can easily fall out of a pocket. While the drives themselves are cheap enough to replace, the data on them can be valuable beyond measure, and the last thing you might want to happen is for someone else to get a hold of it.

This is where fully encrypted USB flash drives come in handy. For a few weeks now I've been using the Integral Crypto Dual USB flash drive, which, along with protecting my data with high-grade encryption, is also compatible with both Windows and Mac systems.

The Integral Crypto Dual is a high-quality product packed with high-end features, including:

• 256-bit AES hardware encryption;
• Validated to FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) 197;
• All data stored to the Crypto Dual drive is encrypted, there is no option to store unencrypted data on the drive;
• Brute-force protection means that data is automatically erased after six failed access attempts;
• The drive also records the failed entry count, so if the drive is removed after two failed attempts and reinserted, the drive will resume with the third attempt;
• Dual password protection -- both a "Master" password and a separate "User" password -- the "Master" password can be used to unlock a drive if the drive owner has forgotten the "User" password;
• The electronic components are sealed in tough epoxy resin which is itself protected by a silicone-coated steel inner case;
• The USB connector is etched with a unique and random 7-digit code to allow a record to be kept of where each drive has gone.
• The drive works with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X systems without administrative privileges;
• For enterprise users, the drive is fully compatible with endpoint security software.

I like this drive a great deal. Not only are the encryption and anti-brute-force attack mechanisms perfect for protecting your data, the drive itself is solid and robust, and capable of taking a real pounding and still keep going. I particularly like the fact that everything stored on this drive is protected and that I'm not given an option to bypass the encryption for those times when I'm feeling lazy.

A small point, but I also love the fact that the lanyard hold on the drive is on the actual body of the drive and not the cap -- because I don't really care if I lose the cap! And in case you're wondering what that little tab on the ball chain is for, it holds the rubber cap when the drive is in use.

All in all, the Integral Crypto Dual is an awesome drive and it comes with my personal recommendations.