Kingston ships new encrypted USB 3 Flash Drives – Password protect your data with DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0

I used to work a government contract. Even though I don’t handle sensitive information anymore I still password protect just about every device I own. I recently reviewed the Kingston DataTraveler 6000, a USB 2 flash drive which uses military grade encryption and anti-intrusion measures to make sure your mobile data can never fall into the wrong hands. I liked it a lot.

Kingston is now introducing a pair of USB 3 protected drives which might be good for businesses or those just looking for a bit more piece of mind with their own personal data. The Vault Privacy 3.0  features hardware based 256-bit AES encryption and password protection. After 10 failed login attempts the drive wipes itself clean making sure your data can’t be accessed.

The Vault Privacy 3.0 Anti-Virus offers all of the same intrusion protections while adding anti-virus protections into the mix courtesy of ESET/ClevX to protect against viruses, worms, rootkits, and other malware.

Both Vaults are available in sizes from 4GB to 64GB, and Kingston is first to market with USB 3 protected drives. Check them out if you’ve been looking for strategies to safeguard your info.

See our review of the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3!

Full PR after the jump.

Kingston Digital Ships Latest Secure USB Flash Drive to Further Protect Data for Enterprises

• Affordable Enterprise-Grade Security Helps Address Privacy and Regulation Concerns

• First to Market Hardware Encrypted USB 3.0 Performance

• DataTraveler Vault – Privacy 3.0 USB Flash Drive also Available with Optional Award-Winning Proactive Malware Protection from ESETFountain Valley, CA – November 13, 2013 – Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of the DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 (DTVP) secure USB Flash drive, as well as the DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 Anti-Virus, which helps enterprises safeguard business data and set security policies for end-users at an affordable price point. DTVP 3.0 provides 100-percent hardware-based encryption of confidential information and is also available separately with ClevX DriveSecurity™ powered by ESET anti-virus protection. The anti-virus engine utilizes ESET’s NOD 32® proactive award-winning technology, which protects corporate end-users wherever they work or plug in.

As the workforce becomes more mobile, businesses must take the appropriate steps to educate their employees and establish security policies so sensitive data cannot be accessed by unauthorized users or cybercriminals. Kingston’s DataTraveler® Vault Privacy 3.0 USB Flash drive provides affordable business-grade security with 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption using XTS block cipher mode, which offers stronger protection than CBC and ECB modes. It is the first-to-market hardware-encrypted secure USB Flash drive with USB 3.0 performance.

DTVP 3.0 is available with optional, easy to deploy and easy to use (no installation required) anti-virus protection from ESET/ClevX that protects the drive’s contents from viruses, spyware, Trojans, worms, rootkits, adware and other Internet-borne threats. The ESET NOD32 anti-virus engine provides instant alerts and comes with a five-year pre-activated license.

“At ESET, we are proud to be joining forces with one of the global leaders in memory products. With ClevX DriveSecurity, Kingston USB sticks add another important layer of protection and we are confident that ESET technology will offer further benefit to Kingston and PC users,” adds ESET Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Ignacio Sbampato.

There are many examples of breaches involving lost or stolen USB Flash drives resulting in large security leaks. The likes of targeted attacks such as the notorious Stuxnet worm and Flame virus continue to loom. Recent examples include:

• In the United Kingdom, the Greater Manchester Police Department was fined £150,000 by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office after an officer brought a Flash drive home containing personal information of more than 1,000 individuals with links to serious criminal investigations. The drive was stolen when the home was burglarized. The stolen device was not encrypted or password protected.

• In India, the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy experienced a breach of their highly-secure, non-Internet connected PCs/ Malware hidden on a secret folder within a USB drive collected information when a user inserted it into a Naval Command PC. Classified data pertaining to sea trials of the country’s first nuclear missile submarine was stored on the drive until it was plugged into an Internet-connected PC so it could be transmitted to another foreign country.

• In the United States, a contractor in charge of developing North Carolina’s Medicaid billing system lost an unencrypted USB drive containing the personal information of more than 50,000 nationwide providers, which included full names, Social Security numbers, addresses and dates of birth.

“Many enterprise organizations take security and protecting confidential information extremely seriously, yet still fail to set or follow all security policies,” said Andrew Ewing, secure USB business manager, Kingston. “With the latest DTVP 3.0 security features and optional anti-malware protection by ESET coupled with best practices, organizations can better safeguard confidential data. Kingston has also helped enterprises future proof their investment by implementing fast USB 3.0 speeds and designing controllers which allow NAND to be interchanged without requalification and certification of security features.”

Kingston DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 and DataTraveler Vault Privacy Anti-Virus Features & Specifications:

• Read-Only Access Mode: when selected, access files in Read-only Mode to avoid potential Malware risks

• Enforced password protection: complex password is user set with minimum characteristics to prevent unauthorized access

• Secure: drive locks down and reformats after 10 intrusion attempts

• Easy to use: no admin rights or application installation required

• Customizable5: preload content, password length, maximum number of password attempts and internal/external serialization numbering

• Co-Logo available5

• TAA Compliant

• Business-Grade Security: 100 percent of stored data is protected by hardware-based, 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) in XTS mode

• Durable design: resilient protection for data in a waterproof3 aluminum casing

• USB 3.0: latest USB standard guarantees backwards compatibility with USB 2.0

• Capacities1: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB

• Speed2: USB 3.0:

  • 4GB: 80MB/s read, 12MB/s write

  • 8GB, 16GB: 165MB/s read, 22MB/s write

  • 32GB: 250MB/s read, 40MB/s write o 64GB: 250MB/s read, 85MB/s write

• USB 2.0:

  • 4GB: 30MB/s read, 12MB/s write

  • 8GB–64GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write

• Dimensions: 77.9mm x 22mm x 12.05mm

• Operating Temperature: 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C)

• Storage Temperature: -4°F to 185°F (-20°C to 85°C)

• Minimum System Requirements:

  • USB 3.0 compliant and 2.0 compatible

  • Two (2) free drive letters required for use4

• Guaranteed: 5-year warranty with free technical support

1. Please note: Some of the listed capacity on a Flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go to Kingston’s Flash Memory Guide at kingston.com/flashguide

2. Speed may vary due to host hardware, software and usage.

3. Up to 4 ft.; conforms to IEC 60529 IPX8. Product must be clean and dry before use.

4. First free drive letters after physical devices such as system partition, optical drives, etc.

5. Minimum quantity required. Performed at the factory.