Kingston DataTraveler 5000 Secured by Spyrus Technology

SPYRUS, Inc. announced that their Secured by SPYRUS technology is used to implement all cryptographic security functions in the new Kingston DataTraveler 5000 USB flash drive from Kingston Digital, Inc. The DataTraveler 5000 will be available to government and enterprise customers in over 100 countries.

"SPYRUS designed its hardware-based security to protect U.S. Department of Defense and other sensitive data. We are proud to join with Kingston to introduce a product with many of the same high-assurance technologies used in our own Hydra PC product line," said Tom Dickens, Chief Operating Officer for SPYRUS. "Our proven technologies surpass all others to protect customer data against the proliferation of cyber crime, cyber attacks and data loss."

The DataTraveler 5000’s flash memory and cryptographic security processors are contained within an epoxy-sealed hardware module, which is Secured by SPYRUS using patented SPYRUS technologies for secure USB devices. The device is FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated, with Level 3 validation pending. The DataTraveler 5000 incorporates Made-in-U.S.A. SPYRUS cryptographic technologies to mitigate the risks of untrusted parts entering the supply chain.

Within this sealed module, multiple cryptographic processors work together to both implement and verify security functions, shielding both confidential information and the security processing that protects it from electronic eavesdropping.

When the drive is inserted into a PC for the first time, a secure channel transfers the user’s initial password from the computer to the DataTraveler 5000 security module using the same cryptographic functions recommended by the U.S. Government to protect national security information. This ensures that security information is never exchanged between the trusted, FIPS-validated module and a less secure host environment.

Inside the security module, the initial password is sent through a set of cryptographic operations by the security processors, and the results are used to encrypt the contents of the drive. The password and results are then discarded, making it impossible to recover them.

Because all password processing is contained within the security module, device unlock codes never travel between the device and the host computer, and encryption keys are never present on the host computer where they could be compromised.

"The DataTraveler 5000 Secured by SPYRUS delivers unsurpassed levels of security and encryption to government and enterprise customers," said Mark Akoubian, Business Manager, Secure USB Products, Kingston. "This portable data solution represents state-of-the-art data protection while providing end users with the simplicity of plug and play."

Secured by SPYRUS products implement proven technologies that have been developed by SPYRUS over 15 years of leadership in creating the most secure hardware-based encryption, authentication, and digital content security products available to governments, enterprises, and military organizations.

Secured by SPYRUS includes SPYRUS Suite B On-Board security technology defined by the U.S. Government to promote cryptographic interoperability while protecting both unclassified and classified data.

Beyond using 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption, Secured by SPYRUS supports the new XTS-AES encryption mode, which provides greater security for flash drive memory than CBC, ECB, and other encryption modes.