In today’s era, information is more valuable than ever, and so is protecting it. We live in a world of interconnected devices that have prying eyes everywhere. Protecting your data from others is possible thanks to hardware encrypting.
SecureData provides Secure USB Duo and Secure Drive Duo. Together, they offer a fortress-like defense to your information castle from the siege machines of hackers. No matter how hard they try, the walls of the fortress will never fall.
In this article, I’ve explained all the features of these devices and how they help protect your data from unwanted access.
Secure USB Duo and Secure Drive Duo
In today’s age, where data is a precious jewel, the Secure USB Duo can act as a shield. It does the data protection job efficiently and with versatility.
The Secure Drive Duo is also an advanced storage solution that offers a new layer of data protection for your information. It can protect you from the blows of internet assassins quickly and effectively.
Some of their features will be discussed in depth.
Unboxing
Firstly, the unboxing.
- The package came with micro USB and USB-C adapters and the USB itself.
- It’s a 16GB variant plus the outer case can come out to reveal the keypad.
- You can either unlock it with the key or from their mobile application.
The USB can be easily connected to computers or mobiles because of the adapters. If you are someone who often loses their USB then the package also has a band-keychain type thing to attach with the USB.
Secure USB Duo provides 3 years of warranty. Even though the USB is a plug-and-play device, meaning no extra steps, it still provides a user manual for further assistance.
The Secure Drive Duo came with a nice carrying case and two cables:
- One for USB C and micro USB
- The other is for USB A
Now, both of these devices are hardware encrypted which enhances security and additionally, they work with any operating system. Therefore, you can work with them on any machine.
Key Features
- Encryption: Unlike regular drives, the Secure USB and Drive Duo contain hardware encryption methods to safeguard sensitive data. Hardware encryption takes place at a physical level in the device. Using the built-in encrypters, it can encrypt or decrypt your data without affecting the performance of your system.
- FIPS certified: FIPS, or Federal Information Processing Standards, is a set of security standards established by the U.S. federal government for information security. A hardware-encrypted drive is FIPS-certified when it has undergone extensive testing to meet these standards. This makes it up to standards for government, military, and industrial data privacy.
- Pin Authentication: One of the fundamental features of secure drives is that it requires the user to enter a PIN to set it up. Anyone who doesn’t have the code will not be able to access the data. If you happen to forget the PIN, you can easily reset it using the app.
- Large Capacity: Contrary to the Secure USB Duo which is 16GB, the Secure Drive Duo provides up to 500 GB (Gigabyte). It’ll take you a while to fill the storage of this drive.
- Resistant To Damage: The USB has a dust and waterproof design that protects it from water as well as dust, sand, and other small particles. Together, they make the Secure USB Drive resistant to water spills and a viable option for outside use, like construction sites.
- SelfDestruct: The self-destruct feature is a secure and sophisticated feature offered by SecureData. It wipes all the data on the USB or the Drive when multiple failed access attempts occur, giving your data an extra layer of protection from unauthorized access.
- Read-Only Mode: Read-only mode is a feature that limits the user’s access to data. The users can view and retrieve but can’t make changes or write new data. This makes it easy to share your information without the risk of them tampering with it.
- Phone Control: Both Drives can be integrated with your smartphone using the SecureData app. The SecureData app provides much more control over your drive, like Remote wipe, Recovery pin, and Biometric Lock.
- Auto Lock: A certain period of inactivity will lock the devices to prevent unauthorized access. This Auto Lock feature helps prevent data leakages and enhances the privacy and protection of your sensitive data on the drives.
- Wear Resistant: The Secure drives can withstand everyday indoor use. Its incredible design consists of robust and reliable materials. Unlike other keypads, the Secure Drive and USB’s keypad are wear-resistant, preventing patterns from forming after constant use.
- Super Fast: Unlike traditional hard disk drives, the Secure Drive Duo is a solid-state drive (SSD) that makes your data encryption/decryption process faster. The fast speed makes the data-protecting process quick and hassle-free.
- App Integration: Available on both Android and iOS alike, the Secure Data Lock app allows the user to lock or access both the USB and Drive Duo for efficiency and convenience. This added layer of security helps you protect your data from cyber creeps while giving you easy access to it.
Pros And Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| They use encryption methods to ensure that your private data remains secure from unwanted prying eyes. | Secure drives are more expensive than regular drives, impacting budget-conscious users. |
| The large capacity and fast processing of the Secure Drive Duo offer fast encryption over large amounts of files. | If not connected to your smartphone accessing the data on the drive can be a hassle because you’ve to enter the PIN every time. |
| The Secure USB Duo is dust and water proof making it a viable option for outdoor use. | If the self-destruct feature is accidentally triggered, data recovery can be difficult if not impossible. |
| The integration with the SecureData app provides automated security of your data. |
Personal Rating
After considering the features, I am giving the USB drive a solid 8 out of 10. The drive has multiple features to ensure the privacy of your sensitive data. The USB drive also supports integration into your smartphone for easy access.
The price tag of $139 can make a dent in your pocket. While it may be fine for some, others will reconsider buying the drive. A lower price will positively impact the rating of the USB on my scale.
As for the Secure Drive Duo, it gets a rating of 9 out of 10. The drive has even more features to increase the privacy of your data. The Drive also offers quick protection for large amounts of data (up to 500GB).
While the $250 price tag may be too much for some people, most will be satisfied with the number of features provided. I’ll even consider giving it a perfect score if the price gets reduced.
FAQs
What Is a Hardware-Encrypted Drive, and How Does It Differ from Software Encryption?
A hardware-encrypted drive is a storage device with encryption integrated into its hardware.
It differs from software encryption by encrypting data at the device level, making it more resistant to hacking attempts.
How Does the Self-Destruct Feature Work in Hardware-Encrypted Drives?
The self-destruct feature erases all data on the drive after a set number of failed access attempts.
That enhances data security by preventing unauthorized access.
What Is FIPS Certification, and Why Is It Essential for Some Users?
FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) certification means a device has met its security standards.
Which makes it crucial for governments and industries where data security is essential.
Final Thoughts
- Hardware-encrypted drives like the Secure USB Duo and Secure Drive Duo protect your sensitive data in an era where information security is significant.
- These drives offer many features, from hardware encryption and FIPS certification to PIN authentication and self-destruct mechanisms, ensuring your data remains impenetrable to hackers.
- While the Secure USB Duo receives a solid 8 out of 10 due to its privacy features and smartphone integration, the Secure Drive Duo impresses with an overall score of 9 out of 10, offering enhanced data protection through extra security and storage.
- Even though the drives are expensive, they are a worthwhile and valuable addition to your household. Nevertheless, a price reduction can lead to higher ratings for these drives.