11 of the Best from CES

2. Data Locker Requires Password to Access Secure Hard Drive

If the concept of other ’secure’ external hard drives left you wondering how secure the data really was, the Data Locker Secure Drives, from Data Locker Inc., should provide you with a much higher comfort level. The Data Locker is an external USB hard drive with a high level of data security.

Data Locker encrypts the data on the hard drive. An onscreen touchpad requires that the user enter a PIN code to gain access to the drive. Without the correct unlock code, the Data Locker does not allow access to the contents of the drive.

The Data Locker uses a USB 2.0 interface and weighs only nine ounces. It is a compact 5" x 3" x 0.8" and uses 2.5" hard drives. If an unauthorized user gives up on guessing the PIN code and removes the drive, attaching it to another computer, the data on the drive will be inaccessible because of encryption on the drive. Thus, the Data Locker doesn’t just prevent a user from getting at the data on a drive, it also protects the data on the drive from unauthorized readers. The drive is powered by the USB, so connection to a powered USB device (either a PC or Notebook computer or a powered hub) would assure proper operation of the drive.

Data Locker will be offered in a bare case (for use with a 2.5" SATA drive supplied by the user), as well as an 80, 120, or 250 GB capacity. The bare case sells for $99, the 80 GB version sells for $159, the 120 GB model sells for $199, and the 250 GB Data Locker sells for $299.