The 'Unhackable' Swiss Army Knife USB Stick
The makers of the Swiss Army Knife claim that this thing is impossible to hack (though you could probably use the knife bit to do some hacking of your own).
Nothing in the world is unhackable, right? Right. But Victorinox, the company behind the Swiss Army Knife, claims that it has the most unhackable USB solution right now.
In fact, the company held a launch event in London where it would give a £100,000 (nearly US$150,000) prize to hackers if they could break into it during the two hours the event lasted, but the USB hardware held its ground.
The Victorinox Secure is a USB stick that's built into a Swiss Army Knife and it uses several layers of security. One step is fingerprint identification that's attached to a thermal sensor – so that the finger alone, detached from the body, will still not give access to the memory stick’s contents.
The Secure features MKI’s Schnuffi Platform Single Chip Technology, which makes it possible to operate with no external and accessible lines between the different coding/security steps, as on multi-chip solutions. Victorinox says this makes cracking the hardware impossible.
For those looking to get right to the hardware itself, the Secure has also been made tamper-proof. Any attempt to forcibly open it triggers a self-destruct mechanism that irrevocably burns its CPU and memory chip.
The Secure Pro is available in three different sizes, ranging from 8GB to 32GB RRP £50 ($75) - £180 ($270) and features:
- Removable USB flash drive
- Biometric fingerprint recognition technology
- LED Mini White Light
- Retractable Ball Point Pen
- Blade
- Scissors
- Nail File with
- Screwdriver
- Key ring
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A USB memory stick does deserve a place on a swiss army knife in this modern era...
Also, I wouldn't mind one of these ;D
"One step is fingerprint identification that's attached to a thermal sensor – so that the finger alone, detached from the body, will still not give access to the memory stick’s contents."
Umm... couldn't you just warm the detached finger up a little? You know, stick it under your armpit or something? lol
Makes the "gummy bear impression" method harder. But heating up a severed finger seems plausible.
Until I have top secret clearance, this will probably be good enough for me.
Now Macguyver can finally find his place in the modern era!
Breaking news:
The unhackable swiss army USB stick has been hacked.
Breaking news:The unhackable swiss army USB stick has been hacked.
It's only a matter of time.
I don't think I can take this USB stick to my classes...
Every 6 months i see on the news the new "unhackable" something... then, 6 months later down the track, i see on the same news how they managed to exploit a "minor" bug and make it hackable...
Not hard to hack. Take a couple needles and heat them and poke em through the plastic to push down on the sensors, or if that doesn't work, push em down into contacts to hardware hack it. You might go through a few drives before you figure out the way to do it. Nothing is impossible to hack, some things just require a lot more work then others.
okay, if they are willing to give out $150k if somebody cracks this, im pretty sure they have thought of that....idiot.
It's probably only USB 2.0. They will need to come out with a 3.0 version, since this one will be dated soon after it is bought.
On a side note, can it survive getting wet?
I mean, security aside, my swiss army knives go through hell.
Is it sturdy?
This unit would have to be part of your checked baggage if you fly, otherwise the TSA will take it away from you before you board your flight.
Not to split hairs, but hacking implies without a severed fingered cut by you, from the owner (lord knows what you did to the owner) and heated to the proper temperature.
I'm not sure what they call that, but you wouldn't have to be my cousin vinny to argue that's a bit more than hacking. ;>)
Looks like it has a laser tbh.
there is always a way
In 2 hours hacking something new is pretty much impossible. Plus, I greatly doubt anybody had the resources to do something like that in 2 hours. Your calling the wrong guy the idiot.
yeah.....but if somebody steals the drive and takes it home they're going to have longer than 2 hours to crack it. the product is designed for permanent security, not just 2 hours.
and you're right, you're the idiot.
You guys realize this officially means nerds will be armed, right? Bully's beware...
....right after I finish backing up my data.
"One step is fingerprint identification that's attached to a thermal sensor – so that the finger alone, detached from the body, will still not give access to the memory stick’s contents." Umm... couldn't you just warm the detached finger up a little? You know, stick it under your armpit or something? lol
yep
would of been more effective with some type of heartbeat sensor...
I replaced my swiss army knife with a leatherman a long time ago. Im not carrying this just for the usb.
this is the best news this week.
You
"One step is fingerprint identification that's attached to a thermal sensor – so that the finger alone, detached from the body, will still not give access to the memory stick’s contents." Umm... couldn't you just warm the detached finger up a little? You know, stick it under your armpit or something? lol
Microwave the finger!
The LifeLock guy put his SSN on TV to prove that it couldn't be stolen... then it was. Just like everything else in the world, this will be hacked and will just be hacked sooner because they say it's impossible.
YouMicrowave the finger!
Putting up with the smell of cooking flesh is another one of their layers of security.
Don't think many hackers are wiiling to put up with that for the data (unless it's a /b/tard looking for CP, in which case, nothing will stop them).
okay, if they are willing to give out $150k if somebody cracks this, im pretty sure they have thought of that....idiot.
do you have the paper of wont work on it? Im pretty sure you don't. Just because there giving out 150k for an event, doesn't mean they thought to prevent hacks coming in from this way or that way. All that money mean was how confident they are. nothing more.
so dont be calling other people idiots. That just make who ever saying it an idiot.
This would really be useful for businessmen, if it wasn't a swiff knife. They don't allow that on planes.. do they ? ie in ur hands and not in the storage/luggage.
to gamebrigada --> your a towel!
"One step is fingerprint identification that's attached to a thermal sensor – so that the finger alone, detached from the body, will still not give access to the memory stick’s contents." Umm... couldn't you just warm the detached finger up a little? You know, stick it under your armpit or something? lol
"Dammit! I just cut off my finger on my razor sharp swiss army knife, what could be worse? What?! Now I can't use my Swiss Army Knife's USB drive?!"
This would really be useful for businessmen, if it wasn't a swiff knife. They don't allow that on planes.. do they ? ie in ur hands and not in the storage/luggage.
I was just thinking the same thing - this is great until you try to go through any US airport security check point with it (and you bottle of hand lotion, and your laptop, and you nail clippers, and your shoes, and soon your underwear, hair, a smile, teeth, breast/penile implants, or you critical heart/diabetes medications).
Also, I am in the camp of "unhackable" meaning not yet hacked. As to the thumb idea, sure you could try to get away with that at a contest - but is the jail term you are going to get worth the money? (Outside the contest, isn't there any easier way to do it than cutting off a thumb? I am sure there is, as there are better points of attack - like buying the person a few drinks and getting them to show off their "super secret" data.)
Encryption?
I'd love it if it didn't have all the crap with it. Like I really want to carry all that heft around.
This would not be good in airports public buildings and such..