Working in public places and exchanging data is a daily part of our work schedule. Imagine just finalizing an important contract while enjoying a cup of coffee at your favourite Cafe. Quickly save your changes to your USB stick and pack your things. In a hurry, you run to your Metro and quickly find a place to sit. Suddenly the realization comes that you have forgotten something while the train leaves the station. Your USB stick is not in your bag but is still on the table at Cafe. Shit!
Everyone knows these moments. Forget things in a hurry or sloppy handling of data carriers. Yet we often forget how vulnerable we are at these moments because losing something as simple as a USB stick can put your documents in the hands of strangers. Kingston sent us a handy new USB stick that ensures that your data is only accessible with a security code.
The Kingston DataTraveler 2000 is equipped with a chip that provides hardware encryption of your files based on the 256bit AES algorithm. Instead of having to encrypt the information you put on the stick yourself for extra security, for example with Microsoft’s BitLocker, this is done completely automatically. Because of this, you cannot simply forget to store your data securely. When someone (or you) incorrectly enters the pin code 10 times, the stick is automatically deleted. This prevents so-called gross force attempts to guess the pin code. The stick itself is in aluminium protective sleeve that fits very tightly. By means of a rubber edge, it also seals itself from moisture and dust (IP57). A metal ring is also attached to the sleeve that you can use to hang it
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Getting Started
To get started with Kingston DataTraveler 2000 you need:
- Press the button with the image of the key, after which the red indicator under the logo of the closed lock starts to flash;
- Enter the correct PIN code within 10 seconds (the default is “11223344”);
- Again, press the button with the image of the key.
- If everything went well, the green LED under the open lock and the blue LED under the key button light up.
- To change the password on the unlocked drive, you must:
- Double-click on the key button (the blue indicator will flash;);
- Within 10 seconds, enter a new password (from 7 to 15 digits, but without a constant repetition of a single digit (5555555) and without successively searching them (1234567));
- Double-click on the key button (the green indicator starts flashing);
- Re-enter the new password within 10 seconds;
- Confirm it by double-clicking.
If everything went well, the red indicator will immediately light up and change to green. If in the process any error was made, the previous password will remain in force. Note that the letters on the keyboard are intended solely to simplify the remembering of the password.
The drive also supports write protection mode and auto lock mode after a certain time. All this can be configured using similar keystroke sequences. For more details on this, refer to the user manual available at this link.
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Performance and Benchmarking
In CrystalDisk Mark, the Kingston DataTraveler 2000 flash drive showed even higher performance than the manufacturer stated: the read speed reached 155 MB / s and the write speed was 92 MB / s instead of the expected 135/40 MB / s.
The actual reading of files took place at a speed of 149 MB / s, and the write speed at 74 MB / s. (2 GB File)
Summing up, it is worth considering that it is impossible to treat the Kingston DataTraveler 2000 (DT2000 / 32GB) as an ordinary average flash drive since it has some very interesting features and higher cost. The first consideration is to buy this model for companies, government agencies and affluent users who need increased information security. For its security, the 256-bit AES hardware encryption in the XTS mode and the PIN code for accessing the device with the anti-tampering mechanism by banal combinations are responsible.
The case itself is protected from dust and moisture according to the standard IP57. Thus, the flash drive is not afraid of various weather conditions and prevents unauthorized access to information. In addition, a small steel cable is used to fasten the drive, so it will not be easy to tear it off.
Conclusion
In general, the Kingston DataTraveler 2000 model definitely deserves your attention if data protection is important first of all, and you don’t want to face the need to install special encryption software on all PCs you work for, because the device is encrypted at the hardware level.
