Crypteks USB stick is encrypted and locked to keep your files safe

By Kelly Montgomery November 29, 2011

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Now, we’re not really interesting in what kind of information you keep on your flash drives, but if keeping that information safe and secure is of utmost importance to you, then a locking and encrypted USB stick might be right up your alley. Inspired by the Cryptex from The Da Vinci Code, this USB is no match for anyone who wants to get a hold of your files. The USB drive is covered by a metal cylinder of five rings that each contain the letters of the alphabet. Twist all five sections into the correct code and you’ve got access to your USB and all your files.

The Crypteks ($130+) is made from heavy-duty aluminum and also has 256-bit AES hardware encryption, just in case your password is too easy to figure out. The password to the locking device can be easily changed as well. Once you have the device unlocked, all you have to do is put the five cylinders back onto the stick to make the correct new password, and you’re done. The project is currently running on Kickstarter, where a $130 donation will get you a 8 GB stick and a $160 donation will nab you one of the 16 GB versions. There also seem to be plans for a 4 GB version, but there’s no word on a price for that one yet.

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Kelly Montgomery

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Kelly Montgomery is a magazine journalism graduate from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications…

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