IronKey 4 GB Secure Hardware-Encrypted USB 2.0 Flash Drive D20402A

by IronKey

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 0.4 x 3 inches ; 1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000RXYV5U
• Item model number: D20402A
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The IronKey 4 GB secure hardware-encrypted flash drive protects your data, online passwords, and Internet privacy with hardware-based encryption. Now you can safely carry your digital files with you wherever you go and surf the Web privately through almost any network--even across unsecured wireless hotspots. Furthermore, the IronKey is optimized for speed and designed to be waterproof and tamperproof. The IronKey Cryptochip uses hardware-based encryption, which is faster, more secure, and easier to use (no software or drivers to install) than software-based encryption.

Although it employs advanced military-grade security, it is a cinch to use and requires only a password to unlock it. Manage all of your online accounts and passwords in one place with direct access and protection against keystroke-logging spyware and other online threats. If Cryptochip detects any physical tampering by a thief or a hacker, it will self-destruct. And if your IronKey is ever lost or stolen, you can easily restore your lost data and passwords to a new IronKey.

Product Description

IronKey Personal is a high-speed hardware-encrypted flash drive that stores and protects your files and passwords with military-grade AES encryption. Safeguard your data, securely store and backup your passwords, and surf the Web safely and privately without leaving a trace on your computer. Waterproof to military specifications, the IronKey's hardware encryption and authentication technologies are FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite ready for prime time, September 20, 2007

By 

Bubba Bob McCoy "Bubba" (Texas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: IronKey 4 GB Secure Hardware-Encrypted USB 2.0 Flash Drive D20402A (Personal Computers)

What it does, it does pretty well. It looks dang good. It's a great secure thumb drive. There are a few shortcomings that are pretty well documented in Ironkey's forum. To the Company's credit, they usually respond truthfully and say "Yep. Thanks for pointing that out. That doesn't work quite right. We're working on it." But it's still kind of disappointing.

Issues I've had in the week I've had it and used it include the following:

* When you enter a login on a web site, it asks if you want it to save the info in its PW manager. If you make a mistake and click "Never" rather than "Cancel" or if you clicked "Never" and change your mind, it will not let you recover to a prior state and enroll that site for auto login. As configured, "Never" really does mean "Never". Never ever ever.

* The control screen interface is slick, but if you add portable apps, there is apparently no way to add them to the Ironkey's control screen. To launch them, you have to go into its secure files tab (Windows Explorer type interface) and find your executable in order to launch it.

Don't get me wrong, I like the product. It lets me do some real cool things I wouldn't otherwise be able to do. But fix some of the bugs, and you have a super product.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent security product, December 22, 2007

By 

G. Feldman "Geoff" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IronKey 4 GB Secure Hardware-Encrypted USB 2.0 Flash Drive D20402A (Personal Computers)

I have the Iron Key 4gb and I cannot live without it. As said in some other reviews and as admitted by IK themselves, there are some convenience features that would be nice to have. They are very open on their forum about both strengths and weaknesses, reasons why they did things as they did and plans for the future.

This is not a toy, it is a high security device. If you really want a flash drive with some extras like TrueCrypt, this is probably not the best value. If you want a drive that has the most solid encryption for the money, this is it. Good security does come at some price of convenience though.

The "Secure Sessions" feature is a very nice feature for people who need to communicate on the web while hiding their location or preventing local intrusion to their messages. An example of legitimate use would be someone who is being stalked and does not wish their place in the world known. It is also useful for security administrators who wish to investigate intrusions without tipping their hand that they are aware of the intrusion.

As with all security systems, if you really are counting on privacy and security then you should carefully read about the features and be sure you are using them correctly.

I have started storing things on my IK that I would not store even on my home PC in cleartext.

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely secure, but also easy to use, August 21, 2007

By 

Doctor Evans "cheezemaster" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: IronKey 4 GB Secure Hardware-Encrypted USB 2.0 Flash Drive D20402A (Personal Computers)

I was pleasantly surprised when I got my IronKey 4GB model that it feels far more solid and reliable than other usb flash drives which are typically made of plastic, or a hollow metal shell. This baby is waterproof and tamper-resistant. It's solid.

I use it on Windows XP. It mounts a read-only partition with the unlocking control panel software. You simply enter your password and it then mounts up the encrypted partition. Read/write speeds are very fast. It comes with an onboard FireFox browser and a cool password manager. IronKey are giving out online services for password backups and restore.

All in all, a highly secure product, designed by security guys, but very easy to use. The portable browsing and password manager give Internet security and portability.