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Ovrdrive does not encrypt its contents by default but has a uniquely physical security mechanism and can be rigged to self-destruct - by heating itself to over 100 degrees C:
Through GitHub and Crowd Supply, Ryan Walker of Interrupt Labs (via CNX Software) is releasing a security-focused, open-source USB flash drive called Ovrdrive USB, which boasts a self-destruct mechanism that heats the flash chip to over 100 degrees Celsius.
The Ovrdrive USB is unencrypted by default, so it should still be legal in countries where encryption is otherwise illegal while providing an extra degree of (physical) security not matched by our current best flash drives.
First, the Ovrdrive USB design functions pretty simply. It's mostly a run-of-the-mill USB flash drive with a unique activation mechanism. For it to be detected by your machine, you have to rapidly insert the drive three consecutive times actually to turn it on. Failure to do so will hide the drive's partition and give the impression that it's broken. Initially, it was supposed to self-destruct, but it proved too challenging to mass produce, forcing Walker to change the drive.
[...] In its crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Supply, the flash drive is slated for an August 2024 release and priced at $69 with free US domestic shipping or $12 international shipping for the rest of the world. At the original time of writing, the flash drive has reached 70% of its funding, with two days remaining on the funding deadline.
Related: Report Reveals Decline In Quality Of USB Sticks And MicroSD Cards
(Score: 3, Funny) by tangomargarine on Wednesday February 14 2024, @05:55PM (1 child)
I've never understood you weirdos who keep making this claim over the years. Do you have a lot of trouble tying your own shoelaces, or walking and chewing gum at the same time, too?
Just look at the damn plug for one second before you plug it in. It's not rocket science.
Plus, with USB drives they usually have a clearly different "top" and "bottom", so you only need to figure out which is which once ever, unless you use multiple PCs and for some strange reason one of them has its USB ports mounted upside-down.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 4, Insightful) by owl on Wednesday February 14 2024, @07:14PM
We do, but unless we are also lucky enough to be plugging into a front size, visible USB-A port, the "Try three times" game will almost always occur. First try, on the not front-side, not directly visible, port, with the correct orientation will flatly refuse to go in. Flip, it won't go in again (now because it is actually backwards). Flip again (back to the correct orientation) and it will now, mysteriously go in, even though it refused the first time with the same orientation.
The reason is that neither of the plug nor port have camfers on the edges to provide automatic "self-alignment" for a sightly mis-aligned aim. So if one's aim is not "perfect" into the not visible port, the plug simply won't go in.