
It also meets the FIPS 197 standard for hardware encryption. The encryption standard is top-level 256-bit AES XTS, similar to the Aegis Secure Key 3Z. The DataTraveler Vault Privacy USB stick is designed to meet business security standards but is just as good as a personal encrypted drive. This is significantly faster than the Secure Key 3NX which otherwise has a similar spec at a lower price (though is not currently FIPS 140-2 Level 3 accredited).īest Value: Kingston DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0Ĭapacity: 4GB–64GB | FIPS 197 | 256-bit AES XTS encryption | USB 3.0 The 3Z offers fast data transfer with speeds of up to 190MB/s read and 80MB/s write. You can set the pin to be between 7 and 16 digits in length (the longer it is, the more secure) and you’re able to specify the number of incorrect attempts that can be made before the brute-force defense mechanism activates, deleting the encryption key and destroying the ability to decrypt stored data.īecause the device is so compact, you may find the keypad fiddly to operate if you have large fingers, which could be a downside over other unlocking methods. The drive is unlocked by entering a pin number on the keypad. A coating of hardened epoxy protects the internal components from physical tampering. It meets the FIPS 140-2 Level 3 standard, incorporating hardware encryption, tamper resistance and identity authentication. The Secure Key 3Z incorporates the most sophisticated encryption that’s readily available on the market – 256-bit AES XTS. It’s not the cheapest option, but there are a range of storage sizes available from 8GB up to 128GB. This award-winning USB flash drive has top levels of protection, fast transfer speeds and is reasonably durable. Secure Flash Drive Reviews Best Encrypted Flash Drive: Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3ZĬapacity: 8GB–128GB | FIPS 140-2 Level 3 | 256-bit AES XTS encryption | USB 3.1 IP67 offers a good all-around level of protection.

Other modes include ECB and BCB.įIPS standards are the US federal benchmarks for cryptographic security.įIPS 140-2 Level 2 or higher gives maximum security.Ī standard that assesses how resistant a device is to dust and/or water.

This describes the block cipher mode that’s part of AES specification. The method used to scramble data on your flash drive so it can’t be read by unauthorized people.Īdvanced Encryption Standard – the encryption standard used and recommended by the US government.ġ28-bit encryption is sufficient but 256-bit is the gold standard.

(We also go into deeper detail in the buyers guide below the reviews.) We’ve summarized the most important points in the table below. Yes there’s a lot of jargon when it comes to encrypted USB drives!
