Review: Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Secure Drive

Lenovo's ThinkPad secure hard drive is wrapped in the same velvety black skin found on the company's ThinkPad notebooks, and it has the same excellent key-feel, too, so we never mistyped a PIN.

Its takes a layered approach to password security with two defined roles – administrator and user – making it a smart choice for both individuals and teams made up of multiple users.

Setup out of the box is brain-dead simple. After attaching the onboard 5-inch USB cable (an extension cable is included), enter the supplied default password on the responsive, soft-touch telephone-style keypad, press the unlock button, and you're connected. The administrator can enroll ten separate users, each with his or her own passcode. Separate key unlock combinations are needed to enter either the "Administrator" mode or the "User" mode, followed by their respective pass codes. All steps are confirmed by the single LED which flashes red, green, and blue accordingly.

If anyone forgets their password, or if an unauthorized person attempts entry, the disk locks up after six failed PIN attempts. The drive must be removed and reconnected to the PC for another go at it. After 25 failed entries, the drive totally locks. But – all is not yet lost. A convoluted procedure outlined in the user manual gains you re-entry for another 25 password attempts (of course the PDF manual is stored on the drive, so it’s best to copy it locally on the initial login). If any passcode is entered incorrectly 50 consecutive times, the brute force self-destruct feature kicks in, wiping all data.

The tight security on the ThinkPad drive is driven by the hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption, and the customizable auto-lock switches on after periods of 5, 10 or 20 minutes of inactivity. It also travels well; the pocket-size slab weighs just 7 ounces, and a 16-point omnidirectional shock-mount system guards against accidental drops. It's reasonably fast, too, though not up to the Apricorn's blazing pace.

WIRED Alphanumeric keypad was the best I used. USB cable is attached, so there are no pieces to forget.

TIRED Could be faster over USB 3.0, and transfers over USB 2.0 are glacial. Maximum available capacity is only 750 GB.