The Pentagon announced last week the ban of USB sticks within it’s organizations. As part of the ban, the Pentagon is collecting all USB drives purchased or provided to department workers. The motivating factor was a global virus the Pentagon was exposed to.
Not much information was collected about what type of virus or the extent to damage, but must be bad enough to initiate a global ban.
Military leaders have consistently warned of potential threats from a variety of sources including other countries – such as China – along with other self-styled cyber-vigilantes and terrorists.
The issue has also been of concern at the Department of Homeland Security. A September audit by the DHS Inspector General recommended that the agency implement greater procedures to ensure that only authorized computer flash drives or other storage devices can be connected to the network there and that an inventory of those devices be set up.
Finally, the Pentagon was quick to point their government agency isn’t the only institution having problems, but many companies and corporations are concerned about the potential security risks of USB drives, their data load size and their small size. It’s a feed ground for malice opportunity.
Source:Â Associated Press.
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Press Release:Â Cryptzone, the Nordics leading Data Leak Prevention provider, today announced the release of their new USB flash drive encryption software, Secured eUSB 4.0.
Secured eUSB 4.0 is the first product to be integrated in the new version of Cryptzone´s centrally managed security platform, the Simple Encryption Platform (SEP) 4.0.
Providing security to USB drives is a growing problem for many companies but with Cryptzone’s solution, companies can now take control of this problem. Secured eUSB can convert any existing USB flash drive into a secure means of transporting sensitive data.
The new version of Secured eUSB, version 4.0, will enable users to encrypt, decrypt, compress and password-protect personal files – even entire folders – stored on USB drives. Operating on the Windows platform
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We saw this post a couple days ago over at Engadget and I’ve been meaning to write about it. Apparently there is new technology which allows you to eavesdrop through USB cables, Ethernet cables and the like.
The idea is using electromagnetic radiation shot off by USB cables to decrypt the information flowing over them to crack your security and privacy. The crew at Security and Cryptography Lab at Switzerland’s EPFL have managed to eavesdrop wired keyboards and track keystrokes made by the user.
What gets really crazy, is the electromagnetic eavesdropping, or cracking, can be administered up to 65 feet away. It’s clear that no one is safe.
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The internet is something we all take for granted. We surf, play and view at our leisure, but for some, this freedom we have is a far cry from their everyday life. Who am I talking about? China. It’s been know since the birth of the internet that China has ultimate control on what you see and hear from the internet.
Typically this wouldn’t bother most, but considering the 2008 Olympics are launching today, there are many foreign visitors who can’t use the internet the way they typically do. This is where the “Freedom Stick” comes into play. The USB dongle Freedom Stick, is a pre-loaded USB drive with all the software, utilities and hacks to get around the Great Wall Firewall of China.
USB dongle is pre-loaded with software which will secure the communications of any computer it is slotted into. Made available by Germany’s Chaos Computer Club, the stick uses the TOR (The Onion Router) network to cloak your connections, routing traffic around the world through anonymous computers, thus avoiding detection.
The USB dongle is available for $30 and is clearly a must-have travel item for this years 2008 Olympics.
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Engadget reported on the new USB luck from Thanko. The not-so-clever device uses a 3 wheel number combination lock which attaches to the USB connector of your USB drive, or anything else with a USB connector. Although this looks like something more to keep the honest people honest as disassembling the lock itself doesn’t look to be terribly difficult.
The funny part is, if the data is that important to keep safe, wouldn’t wouldn’t you spend a few minutes learning about encryption? I mean with the most powerful encryption software by TrueCrypt available for free, why not. Kicks the a$$ of this “hardware” solution.
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We’ve seen plenty of data encryption solutions for USB, but what about true Digital Rights Management for USB drives and their content? Well, Nexcopy seems to be thinking the same thing. Nexcopy has teamed with TrusCont to offer true DRM to flash drives.
The USB Copy Protection includes the ability to copy protect .exe files and .pdf files. With both formats you can set time limits, password protection, anti-copy and anti-rip protection. In addition, the technology will apply copy and paste restrictions and printing rights to pdf documents. Sounds like real digital rights management to me.
The enhanced USB drive has more in it’s back pocket than just copy protection – which is ground breaking enough – but includes the ability for end-users to configure a USB CD-ROM partition, USB Read Only partition or combination of those plus an Open partition for general read/write use.
For the ultimate in flexibility, the flash drive can be configured again and again with the USB CD-ROM partition or USB Read Only partition so if you’re looking to make your own custom U3 drive, looking to mess around with auto-launch software or need a combination of both for some high end application, this is it.
Nexcopy is offering a TSFD Publisher Kit which is a combination of the USB duplicator plus, TrusCont’s USB copy protection and USB configuration utility along with various bundles of enhanced TSFD USB drives (qty 50, 100, 300, 500+).
I’ve requested a drive to see what this is all about and will report back.
Source: PRWeb. via Nexcopy Inc and TrusCont.
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Microsoft developed a USB stick to pluck evidence out of computers at crime scenes. The USB device is called COFEE (Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor) and has the power to blast through security settings to get the good stuff…and quick.
The COFEE USB devices is ideal for on-site investigation where law-enforcement needs to extract data quickly and accurately. The Microsoft COFEE contains 150 commands which dramatically cuts down time to gather digital evidence. It can decrypt passwords and analyze a computer’s
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WiHood is a relatively new service which is the world’s first “virtual laptop” that protects children online [ anywhere & at all times] with the WiHood’s USB bracelet.
The concept is ideal and it appears the user interface, setup and configuration is just as simple. This is what WiHood is: A USB bracelet which auto-launches a virtual desktop when connected to any computer. The virtual desktop runs off the WiHood servers which monitor and update website, programs, virus etc 24/7 for a completely kid friendly computer system.
From personal experience, my kids have trashed my computer – by mistake of course – but it still took time and skill to restore my PC. The WiHood USB bracelet eliminates this risk because a virtual desktop is all your child can use. The other issue I have with my kids using “the parent’s PC” is constant maintenance to monitor website, filters and content. With WiHood, that daunting task is automatically taken care of.
“WiHood protects children, saves parents from purchasing a new PC, and kids love that they have their own “virtual laptop” which stores their pictures, music, homework, etc. and can be worn on their wrist!”
The USB bracelet uses the internal storage to save files, folders, pictures, music etc…but those files are only accessed through the virtual desktop which runs off the WiHood servers. This means your kids will enjoy all the performance of a PC with the security of a remote server running the underlining PC desktop.
The WiHood is free to try and costs $49 for 6 months service or $100 per year. Stack that cost up against purchase of a dedicated PC for the kids and the WiHood is the clear choice.
Still interested. Maybe some more information? Check out the WiHood FAQ page. Or their WiHood Virtual Laptop home page.
WiHood was founded in August 2007 and has been honored to be awarded funding from Innovation Norway, a division of the Norwegian government providing capital to the most innovative companies in Norway.
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Press Release: Philips Launches New USB Smart Key for Dictation Product Line.
Philips is the first company to offer such a tool, which replaces current dongles and older security codes that had to be manually typed in. The USB Smart Key is now packaged with Philips SpeechExec Pro Dictate and Philips SpeechExec Pro Transcribe, as well as Transcribe software packages.
The USB Smart Key can simply be inserted into a USB port and the software will automatically access the license stored on the key. The license can then be easily transferred to a computer with the touch of a download button and, after download is complete, the key is no longer needed for licensing and users can work on that computer without having to keep and carry a dongle. If a user wishes to work with the dictation software on an office computer as well as a computer at home, the USB Smart Key allows him or her to switch from one computer to another without having to purchase a second license.
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Here is the Personal Pocket Safe UFD which is the first of it’s kind that is an “encrypted, epoxy coated, pin-protected smart drive.” Not the first pin-pad USB stick we’ve seen. But with military grade encryption and a mysterious “track-covering” feature to insure no one can trace it’s where-a-bouts after removing from the host.
Lets say you did find the Personal Pocket Safe, well you still need the pin number. This guy features a 10 digit touch-pad pin code using between 4 and 10 digits to lock down your passwords, documents etc. Get the pin number wrong and the Personal Pocket Safe goes in complete lock-down.
“The Personal Pocket Safeâ„¢ is powered by proprietary software embedded within a pin protected pocket safe that features a host of security-rich options that lock in all of the confidential and critical information that powers the lives of today’s consumers.”
Here are some key bullet points from the press release:
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Vital Key is offering a new service whereby medical records are distributed via USB for personal archive.
The trend is beginning where medical records are put to USB for immediate and on-site data sharing for life threatening situations. In a critical moment, time-is-life, and having data is a powerful tool for keeping someone out of harms way.
“It really gives you peace of mind to know that you have all your medical records with you,” said Jackie Dudding, a patient. “God forbid something happens, everything a caretaker needs to know is on this thing.”
Vital Key offers an on-line service to download all your medical records in the event the key is lost or misplaced.
One of the most powerful sentences on the Vital Key website is: “More Americans die each year from medical errors than from breast cancer, colon cancer, and car accidents – COMBINED.” That’s amazing and for anyone with a medical history or condition which requires special needs, I think the Vital Key is a vital device for your longevity and health.
Source: 9 News Denver.
Vital Key website and service information.
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Imagine stepping away from your computer was all that’s needed to lock your computer? It’s a great idea, too bad ProxMat thought of it first. Their USB Mat is a pressure sensitive floor mat which locks your computer when you step off/away.
The ProxMat activates the Windows Key + L shortcut to lock down your computer.
“The ProxMat sensor now locks the unattended computer automatically! The ProxMat incorporates sophisticated pressure sensing technology to detect the presence of the user. When the user leaves the mat, the ProxMat sends the keystrokes to lock the system.”
The USB mat connects via USB and requires no drivers upon installation. ComputerProx, the company which makes the ProxMat has a list of available sizes:
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The Pentagon announced last week the ban of USB sticks within it’s organizations. As part of the ban, the Pentagon is collecting all USB drives purchased or provided to department workers. The motivating factor was a global virus the Pentagon was exposed to.
Not much information was collected about what type of virus or the extent to damage, but must be bad enough to initiate a global ban.
For the ultimate in flexibility, the flash drive can be configured again and again with the USB CD-ROM partition or USB Read Only partition so if you’re looking to make your own custom U3 drive, looking to mess around with auto-launch software or need a combination of both for some high end application, this is it.
Nexcopy is offering a 
WiHood is a relatively new service which is the world’s first “virtual laptop” that protects children online [ anywhere & at all times] with the WiHood’s USB bracelet.
The concept is ideal and it appears the user interface, setup and configuration is just as simple. This is what WiHood is: A USB bracelet which auto-launches a virtual desktop when connected to any computer. The virtual desktop runs off the WiHood servers which monitor and update website, programs, virus etc 24/7 for a completely kid friendly computer system.
