It’s common knowledge, in the view of data security, that the cardinal rule of reciprocity between convenience and security is frequently mentioned; the easier, the safer, and the easier to use, the less secure. As such, easy-to-used devices such as USB flash drives have to be classified as extremely high-risk electronic items and therefore, most companies are also well aware that USB flash drive security is… definitely a priority. Fortunately, it is entirely possible to buy, create, and deploy a number of highly secure USB flash device security authentication devices that allow for the safe storage and use of data on these tiny little mini drives. Such products would, essentially, allow for a certain level of “protection” for USB thumb drives, against loss or damage due to external intrusion.
In order to understand how this works in terms of personal security, it’s necessary to appreciate the inherent risks associated with the very common scenario of a USB drive being lost or stolen. The obvious way in which this can happen is through physical theft-an attack which requires physically taking the USB flash drive out of its owner’s hands. There is, however, another equally dangerous scenario whereby a person may lose his or her private (and perhaps even confidential) information by installing an encryption usb flash drives program on his or her computer. This would obviously represent an even greater danger, because even if the information is initially located on the computer, it can then be remotely retrieved by anyone with access to the Internet.
This is where the Chaos Management Password Elimination System (CMPyx) comes into play. This software tool has been specifically designed to counteract the previously discussed threats to high-security USB flash drives. Essentially, CMPyx works by requiring all files that are stored on a USB flash drive to be encrypted before they can be accessed. Once this is done, all files on these drives can only be read by the rightful user; they cannot be read or written to by anyone else. This ensures that all confidential and personal information contained on these devices remains safe from just about any harm.
Of course, while this is a great program that could definitely help with the security of these types of devices, there are still other issues that come up with these innovative storage devices. For example, even though the USB standard was designed to ensure that data could be safely and easily transferred between computers, it also requires that files be stored securely offline, meaning that they can’t be simply transferred from one computer to another, but have to be safely stored away from the reach of users. This is where the Chaos Password Approach comes into play. This novel design of high-security usb flash drives allows the information to be encrypted while it is on the flash drive, meaning that only the legitimate user will have access to the information. The data therefore stays safe from any unauthorized parties.
Security Usb Flash Drives
But what makes this program really stand out is the use of an NLS (notation layer) algorithm to support the encryption of the data. This means that by combining the novel design of high-security usb flash drives with the non-linear encryption and decryption function design, this program is capable of securing the information so that even if an unscrupulous party comes in possession of the information, they would not be able to read it. In fact, this kind of security is nearly impossible to break through, making it the ultimate weapon against loss of data or destruction of computers. This is why such programs are put on every mobile device that people own, including laptops, smart phones, and other portable devices that people bring with them everywhere they go.
However, while this program is quite impressive from a technical standpoint, there are also some inherent weaknesses that make it vulnerable. For one thing, there is a possibility that the drives can experience read/write head crashes, due to frequent read/write head hits upon entering codes. As a result, the data may be corrupted. And because of the aforementioned algorithm’s use of non-linear encryption and decryption function design, this is a very big issue for those who wish to secure their data from these attacks. Another weakness is that while it is protected by the aforementioned NLS algorithm, there is still the possibility that the device will experience read/write head collisions while transporting the data from one computer to another, due to the inherent redundancy present in the system. Such collisions could then potentially allow the attacker to gain access to the information on the flash drive, resulting to the corruption of the data.
This brings us to one of the most important security features of this type of flash drive: its ability to employ what is called “non-malicious” data protection. Simply put, this feature secures the data even if the aforementioned flaws are exploited. In other words, while the NAND flash’s partitions can be divided into sectors, they are not classified as truly separate entities. Thus, an attacker that breaks the encryption scheme’s confidentiality or integrity, is not restricted to just attacking the partitions themselves. They can also attack the entire device, as well as the entire Flash memory. With the help of the Secure USB Flip Drive’s discrete locking operation, this can be prevented.
Although these are the two main weaknesses of the Secure USB Flip Drive, it must be pointed out that many other issues have been noted. One instance includes the use of a weak password system, resulting to the possible use of brute force to gain access to the data. Another flaw is the absence of a recovery mode, which makes it possible for the thief to easily break into the device and retrieve all the contents stored inside. Lastly, although the device itself is relatively compact and lightweight, it has been noted that it uses a serial port, which requires a separate cable than the USB connection. Thus, if an existing cable is not available, it is recommended that buyers go for the USB microBridges for better convenience.
Tags: security usb flash drives, market, dark-side hackers, ethical hacker, testing
Raymond Dunn is the founder and driving force behind Hackateer.com, a premier source for cybersecurity news and tutorials since 2009. With a mission to empower both novices and experts in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, Raymond has built Hackateer into a trusted platform renowned for its comprehensive industry insights, hands-on tutorials, and expert analysis.
