We also all know that in a perfect world we would never store sensitive data on a portable device such as
USB flash drive; yet we don't live in a perfect world and there comes a time when you need to do just that. This is why more and more secure USB devices are cropping up that offer high end encryption abilities built right into the device.
Sadly, while this is workable at a "one of" level it can be a royal nuisance (and nightmare) when you are talking about a large corporation. This is why the
Hiddn Crypto Adapter really peaked our interest, as it not only works with any USB mass storage such as
flash drives,
hard drives, etc) but is also extremely robust in its security. The reason it can work on anything and is so robust is the Hiddn Crypto Adapter is not a storage device itself; rather, it is an intermediary USB hardware peripheral than interfaces between your storage device(s) and you computer. You literally plug this device into your computer and then plug the storage device into it to being the process.
Only by inserting a special key card
and then entering your password can a storage device be encrypted or decrypted (it uses FIPS 140-2 Level 3 and Common Criteria EAL4+ certified Hiddn Crypto Module). Thanks to its universal nature you as an corporate IT security admin are not beholden to one company for your future storage needs. If brand XYZ devices are cheaper this month and ABC brand a cheaper next (to replace the ones your users lose) you can easily use both. No more needing to worry about interoperability, as this bad boy will work with near anything; and since it has extra beefy encryption there is no real need to worry about those lost devices. Simply write them off, give your user a stern lecture and give them another drive. Colour us impressed.
Harris BlackJack Thumbdrive is the Sonic Screwdriver of Computer Forensics
By Anthony Garland on February 12th, 2011
