Silicon Systems introduces their new USB Blade SiliconDrive, an ultra slim, ultra small USB drive designed for embedded applications.
Although it’s not the first embedded USB drive we’ve seen, it does have the smallest foot print.
Silicon Systems put the USB Blade out for those seeking additional storage where space is a big concern. Designed for shock, vibration and temperature changes the USB Blade does aid in the embedded applications market.
At the size no bigger than a postage stamp, the USB Blade includes Silicon Systems PowerArmor, SiSMART and
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The UPEKEikon Digital Privacy Manager now supports Mac. But those PC guys didn’t make it that easy – you still need to download the Windows version than download the Mac version for a working “preview” version.
The Eikon USB finger scanners allows log-in during power-up, after awaking from sleep and can be further configured at the admin level settings. The UPEK offers all this from the swipe of a finger.
The PC version of the Eikon Digital Privacy Manager started shipping earlier this year for $39.99 with the current Mac version available as beta with full suite to follow.
Is that a PC in the background… Interested?
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Japanese gaming company, Bandai is looking to make the world a safer place. Web surfing can offer a lot of unwanted information to children and expose them to content even the worst parent wouldn’t want them to see.
Bandai created a USB security key to safeguard children while surfing the net. The USB Key automatically logs on with a “kids mode” interface. This allows the kids to surf sites like Yahoo! where it logs only to the kids games section.
Additionally the Bandai key links to recommended or modified kid-friendly only sites. There is a “the toy box mode” as well. In this mode the children can experience playing games in a very different way. There is a message function that allows the children to communicate with their parents on the net.
Bandai did some market research and found about 70% of children internet users are between the 4th and 5th grade. Bandai should have done some more research to realize the kid friendly Mickey Mouse and Poo design is too young…should have gone with Transformers or Ninja Turtles (yes their making a come back!)
Source: New Launches.com
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I’m not a Mac guy, but I can spot a [good] nugget of info when I see it. The Keychain utility on a Mac is designed to safeguard your important passwords, credentials, log-in info, and all those financial records.
So how can you maximize your Keychain security – well at Nevali.net they marry up the Mac Keychain and USB drive for some good-ol-fashion USB security where even the most paranoid can sleep well at night.
If interested, make the jump.
Photo courtesy of Jaron Brass.
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Proporta is calling out a challenge. Try and lose your keys while clipped to their all new, world’s smallest GPS Keychain.
The Freedom Keychain GPS receiver is ideal for connecting to your…wait for it…keychain, notebook, PDA or mobile phone.
The Freedom GPS Keychain works will all popular mapping software such as Google maps and you can hone in via 20 satellite channel connection.
The tracking device is powered by Lithium Polymer batteries battery and working time is rated at 9 continuous hours.
USB charger cable and car charger are provided with the package. At $180 it’s a mighty expensive GPS keychain , but a priceless GPS tracker for your laptop.
Freedom GPS Keychain product page.
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It’s no secret Corsair has a ten number push button padlock for their USB flash drive, the Corsair Flash Padlock. It’s also no secret our good friends over at Gizmos for Geeks are security fanatics – Doug prides himself on having the lowdown on the lockdown.
Looking at the picture it’s very obvious what this drive is all about. In addition to any software security loaded on the drive the Flash Padlock includes a physical pin number to be associated with the drive. What I like about this drive is without the correct pin entered, Windows doesn’t even see the drive upon USB connection.
The idea behind this drive is dual authentication. 1) Something you know (PIN) and 2) Something you have (the USB drive). (The ID Vault is another product which works much the same way)
Tip: Might not want to use the same PIN number as your ATM card/machine.
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The iris USB drive requires a user to look into the on-board camera for a quick looksie. The registration or scanning process will ID the user in around 2 seconds. There are no passwords or pin numbers to unlock the drive, only the correct iris will unlock the valuable content. With 256-bit encryption I don’t think you’ll get past this, even with some James BondContinue Reading
Memorex went to the streets with the M-Flyer Pilot TravelDrive UFD. Using the retractable USB connector design we’ve seen before, Memorex changed it up a spring loaded USB connector. So with the click of a button the USB connector pops-in and pops-out.
With the capless design flash drive, Memorex also bundles in some 256-bit encryption security software also called their Portable Vault Software.
Several colors are available (blue and red) which color arrangement is dependent upon storage capacity.
Blue = 4GB. Red = 2GB. $79 and $49 respectively.
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FMWeb School released a USB security dongle which ties in with FileMaker database solutions – USB Sentry. It’s like the database is hard coded to the UFD device. The inviting point about this solution is when a database developer sells the customs solution the USB Sentry insures unauthorized copies of the database are not distributed. You need the physical security stick to launch and install the database.
Here is a typical scenario:
You sell your solution to your client. They pass it around the office and email it to their friends. Suddenly you hard work is being passed around for free. You are losing money since they are only buying single copies of your software.
USB Sentry is a USB security technology that allows you to distribute your database on UFD and ties your custom application to that UFD device. Your software is bound to that specific drive. Now they can no longer use multiple copies of your software since it will not open without the correct USB stick.
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Wireless keyboards are a dime-a-dozen and sometimes the low-end just wont do. Wireless Computing turned their back on standard wireless keyboards and produced a high-end, commercial grade wireless keyboard that also carries 2-way data encryption technology for secure communication.
Albeit not a common need of the average computer user, USB input devices like this make it possible for retail and commercial organizations to do business without sacrificing security.
The RF-250 encrypted wireless keyboard can distance itself about 100 feet from the USB dongle and include a detachable wrist rest and [touch] mouse pad.
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There are times when my Avast Home Edition Security Software seems to lock up for 3 to 5 minutes downloading the latest update or version. Although it’s not a lot of time, the repeated event grinds on my nerves. For that reason I was very pleased to read about the Yoggie Pico Security System.
The first of it’s kind, the Yoggie Pico device is a self contained mini computer on a USB stick which runs and manages 13 different security applications.
At first thought – doesn’t seem like much – why not load up 13 security applications on your computer and save a USB port? Well, the beauty lies within the combination of a self contained unit, a processor to run it self and the combination of hardware and software to protect your computer.
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Recently the head of marketing for SanDisk, Dror Todress, made a claim where “there are endless examples of data breaches…” then immediately sites an example of a stolen US Army UFD (USB Flash Drive) being purchased from a reporter just 200 yards from an army base in Afghanistan.
Todress goes on to explain most IT managers understand and are aware of such security risks and most employees who bring in USB drives or MP3 players with mass storage capability do not have malicious intentions. However, this doesn’t mean valuable information IS leaving the building.
Considering between 80% – 90% of UFDs do not have encryption software, I thought to browse back through my USB Security category and list out a couple articles which could be of help.
USB lock – a physical blocking of USB port
Free open-source USB encryption software – TrueCrypt
Visual password protector
Disable writing to USB drives on Windows systems
IT management software to control USB endpoints
SanDisk’s answer
Windows Vista locks out USB (actually I don’t think it ever worked)
Wireless PC lock from USB dongle
Another PC port blocking software package
There are a host of other USB devices with security features in my USB security category, but those are device specific not network specific.
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