Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock USB 2.0 Drive Review

Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock detail information

Posted by	Doug Schwantes
Posted on	25/10/07 16:25
Number of views	5597
Manufacturer	Corsair
Product	Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock
Description	2GB Flash Padlock

Conclusion

Introduction

Drive Features

What’s inside the Package?

Performance

Use and Functions

Text Size Text Size

Performance

Performance:

On this page we will take a look at the drive’s performance compared to other High speed USB 2.0 Removable drives.

The USB capabilities of the Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock USB 2.0 Drive are as follows: High speed USB 2.0/USB 1.1 compatible.

HD Tach and Sisoftware Sandra 2007 benchmarking utilities will be used for the performance tests.

For these tests, Write caching was set to Optimize for quick removal. However it is recommended to read the safe removal notes under the options.

Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock USB 2.0 Drive write caching options

HD Tach RW:

Options selected for first HD Tach test

Benchmark results

HD Tach results (8Mb zones)

Random access = 1.1ms

CPU utilization = 6% +/-2%

Average read = 28.5 MB/s

Burst Speed = 29.3.0 MB/s

For comparison we have made the following table:

HD Tach 8mb Zones	Random Access	CPU Utilization	Average Read	Burst Rate
Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock	1.1ms	6%	28.5 MB/s	29.3 MB/s
Corsair Flash Survivor GT 8GB	1.1ms	6%	32.8 MB/s	35.0 MB/s
PNY Attache 1GB	1.2ms	3%	9.7 MB/s	9.9 MB/s

Second Test

Options selected for second HD Tach test

Benchmark results

HD Tach test 2 results (32Mb zones)

Random access = 0.7ms

CPU utilization = 2% +/-2%

Average read = 32.8 MB/s

Burst Speed = 33.9 MB/s

For comparison we have made the following table:

HD Tach 32mb Zones	Random Access	CPU Utilization	Average Read	Burst Rate
Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock	1.1ms	8%	28.5 MB/s	29.3 MB/s
Corsair Flash Survivor GT 8GB	.7 ms	2%	32.8 MB/s	33.9 MB/s
PNY Attache 1GB	1.2ms	2%	9.7 MB/s	9.9 MB/s

Sisoftware Sandra RW:

Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock USB 2.0 Drive

Sisoftware Sandra results

2MB test Read 28023 kB/sec

2MB test Write 6451 kB/sec

64MB test Read 28399 kB/sec

64MB test Write 6554 kB/sec

For comparison we have made the following table:

Sisoftware Sandra	2MB test Read		2MB test Write	64MB test Read	64MB test Write
Corsair 2GB Flash Padlock	28023 kB/sec	6451 kB/sec		28399 kB/sec	6554 kB/sec
Corsair Flash Survivor GT 8GB	32256 kB/sec	17374 kB/sec		33860 kB/sec	27307 kB/sec
PNY Attache 1GB	9353 kB/sec	3652 kB/sec		9830 kB/sec	4369 kB/sec

On the next page we will take a look at the functions and use of the drive.

What’s inside the Package?

Use and Functions

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Posted by severus on Thursday 08 November 2007 19:12

The data on the drive is not stored in encrypted format, it is only protected from reading by use of the combination of keys. Supposedly if one wants to get the flash from the drive and read its contents he might be surprised to find it being stored in clear text - i.e. as is.

Corsair pointed out that they are planning next generation of padlock devices to store the data in the encrypted format, but for now it is not and this version of the padlock will not be upgraded in the future to include the encryption feature at all. So it is up to you, whether you wait for the model that will truly encrypt the data or buy the current padlock device, which will only prevent people who do not know your combination to read your data.

One more thing - when the right combination is entered, the drive unlocks itself for about 15 seconds and then locks itself back, if it was not plugged in a computer USB port. Be careful, if you plug it into your computer in unlocked state, anyone could unplug it from your computer and then plug it to another computer and read all your data in a flash, since it is kept unencrypted and drive does not react to unplugging and does not lock itself at the same moment, since 15 seconds did not pass.

These two security flaws make this drive much less secure, than Corsair advertised.

Be warned

Posted by severus on Thursday 08 November 2007 19:21

Yeah, of course you could use the software encryption software like Dekart (www.dekart.com) or others like Dmailer (www.dmailer.com) or there are lot of free like Truecrypt etc. programs, that can be installed portably on the flash drive itself and encrypt the data using Advanced Encryption Standard 128/192/256 bits (AES) to truly encrypt your data in a container file on the same Padlock device, so that your data is protected from prying eyes.

This device is great as well for the automatic logon programs (for example Dekart Logon) software, since it can store your key file (already encrypted) on the padlock and plugging the locked Padlock device into your computer USB port without entering the right key on the Pad will not trigger the logon mechanism by itself.

Hope this helps you to evaluate whether you need this product or not before you actually go and buy it.

Posted by severus on Thursday 08 November 2007 19:22

This message was edited at: 08-11-2007 19:23

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