Infosec 2009: Kingston adds Mac compatibility to USB drives

Kingston's DataTraveler Vault- Privacy Edition enforces complex password creation

Memory maker Kingston Technology has announced the compatibility of its DataTraveler Vault - Privacy Edition USB Flash drives with Apple Mac operating systems.

The new drives are designed to work with OSX versions 10.4x and 10.5x. They feature full hardware-based 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard, with data transfer rates of up to 24Mbit/s read and up to 10Mbit/s write speeds.

"Our DataTraveler Vault - Privacy Edition has been popular with enterprise and government customers who use Windows-based systems and are looking for a safe and secure way to transport portable data," explained Mark Akoubian, Flash memory business manager at Kingston.

"We are happy to add Mac support to this 100 per cent secured drive so the Apple community can be assured they have an on-the-go storage solution that is the best on the market at safeguarding data."

To help enhance security, Kingston's DataTraveler Vault - Privacy Edition also enforces complex password creation, and the drive locks down and reformats after 10 failed access attempts. The drive's aluminium casing also provides a degree of robustness and water resistance.

The drives cost between $110 (£74) for the 2GB version and $910 (£615) for the 32GB drive. They come with a five-year warranty and customer support.