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I'm looking for a password-write-protected USB Drive or Flash Memory card where I can write to it only with a password.
Do such products exist?

I DO NOT want a software protection/encryption with a common pendrive, I need a suitable drive for this purpose with some specific hardware features. And maybe I will need a custom native library to write to it.

(Mandatory) Requirements:

  • No encryption required
  • 512MB or more storage
  • Write password protection

Optional Requirements:

  • Write via native means of the OS or via specialized library
  • Read without password, possibly like a common usb pendrive.

Password method is not mandatory but I must be sure that only my software should toggle write protection on/off. So any other method is welcome, for example an hardware switch is not good because everybody could turn it on or off.

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  • Do you actually need the password or would a simple write-lock toggle solve the issue you are having?
    – Andy ♦
    Mar 7, 2016 at 14:31
  • 2
    Password method is not mandatory but I must be sure that only my software should toggle write protection on/off. So any other method is welcome, for example an hardware switch is not good because everybody could turn it on or off.
    – Tobia
    Mar 7, 2016 at 15:22

1 Answer 1

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Have you considered biometric USB drives, such as the Imation Defender F200 Biometric, it may be a little slow, but supports passwords, fingerprint scanning, or both. There is a review of it: Imation Defender F200 Biometric Flash Drive Review: Secure but Slow.

Or there is the Iron Key Personal D200, which does not specifically have a password enabled write protect, but it is pretty damn secure, nevertheless. Here is a, somewhat out of date, review: IronKey Personal D200.

As an aside, have you seen George Bailey's answer to Is there such thing as a password enforced write protected flash drive?:

(The write protect switch on the model drive I have used is discrete like a reset button, you need to stick a pen or something into the slot in order to reach the switch and flip it)

The best solution I have so far - that still satisfies the requirement that no malicious files be downloaded by the user - is to get a flash drive that has a physical write protect switch, and apply a coating that will harden. (similar coats are on the market for covering tool handles, such as wrenches)

If the hacker has physical access, I see this setup as having 2 possible outcomes

  • the tamper would be evident to the user (broken seal), or
  • after tamper is complete, a new coat of similar color would have to be applied by the hacker.

Again while not password protected, it does get around the issue that you mention in your comment hardware switch is not good because everybody could turn it on or off.

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  • I have to freely write to this decive, the protection is necessary to avoid the erase/overwrite. I cannot use hardware switch because I cannot be sure that someone switch it erase something and switch it again. I'm looking for an hardware protection by password that can be switch only via API with a password. This way I can use a custom middleware (the only password keeper) to write: it switchs to write mode the drive, check if the file already exists and this case thrown an exception, otherwise goes on and finally switch the drive to readonly.
    – Tobia
    Mar 13, 2016 at 6:47

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