Corsair Padlock Secure 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive CMFPLA8GB

I work in IT, and part of our regulatory compliance is that we have to have USB drives secure so that in case one is lost, there's nothing potentially damaging to the organization. Sadly, most of the time it's hard to enforce compliance because it's too confusing or too difficult for the users to do.

Corsair's solution is pretty slick with hardware level access to the USB drive. Configuration (once you free it from the shrinkwrap without injuring yourself) is really easy - hold down the key button for 3 seconds, set your PIN, hit the key button again, verify your PIN and hit the key button again and that's it. The green light flashes and then you know you're able to insert the USB drive into your PC or Mac (I tested this on my Dell desktop and Macbook.) If the light's not flashing, Windows and OS X won't recognize the drive. It literally is that simple and takes 30 seconds to do.

Compared to devices like the...Read more

I bought 6 of these secure USB memory devices. One of them had an interesting experience. It went through the washer in a pocket. When it came out the password was not needed to get to the "secure encrypted" data. Having the password protection disappear is bad enough but getting the data exposed is a BIG SECURITY VULNERABILITY.

About a week later another of the Corsair Padlock drive's data was accessible (without entering a password and without washing it).

--- updated a week later ---

Corsair responded, appreciating being notified of the bug, and in what is an unusual move, published a detailed workaround on their web site. It is at
[...].
Based on their heads-up analysis of the situation and quick technical response I recommend their product and will continue using it. Note that the web commentary about easily defeating the encryption of the Corsair Padlock relates to a previous design, not the Padlock 2.

I won't repeat everything the other 3 reviewers have sad about the padlock 2. It's convenient, secure, and rugged. However, I can't give it all 5 stars for 2 reasons:

1) I carry my padlock 2 in my pocket, and the soft outer covering quickly attracts and keeps lint and fuzz. Thus, the attractive surface quickly becomes unattractive (minor).

2) The big issue is the internal battery. I have had my padlock 2 about 3 months probably, and the internal batter seems to have lost the ability to keep a charge. Thus, it needs to be plugged into the computer to have enough power to unlock it. This has become a major inconvenience, and it loses some of the "wow" when I show it to other people.

Andrew