Thanko's USB lock protects you from imbeciles, thumbless woodland animals

What kind of security does $7 buy you? You're looking at it: the Thanko USB combination lock. It apparently fits onto any USB drive and likely offers about as much security as a UFO Detector or Targus iPod Lock. Then again, maybe your personal data just isn't that interesting.

[Via Akihabara News]

[ShogunMaster @ Aug 6th 2008 3:19AM]

Muahahahaha! I just found the Christmas Bonuses for my staff!

[Colin Potter @ Aug 6th 2008 3:44AM]

along with replacement USB drives when they forget their combination and smash it?

[deyanimay @ Aug 6th 2008 5:39AM]

Give them prelocked flashdrives. The real bonus is figuring out the combination just to find its a 64mb drive.

[The Apple @ Aug 6th 2008 5:39AM]

Fail Colin Fail...

[Rocketboy @ Aug 6th 2008 10:23AM]

The double-bonus could be that you need to unlock the drive in order to find the unlock code that's on the drive.

[OneLove @ Aug 6th 2008 10:50AM]

Thanko hires mad scientists

[Robert @ Aug 6th 2008 6:00PM]

Thank you ShogunMaster - I nearly peed my pants on that one... which probably would broke that lock if I had it in my pocket

[CaptChunk @ Aug 6th 2008 3:20AM]

Finally I can save my spreadsheets without looking over my shoulder!

[KEROLiUKAS @ Aug 6th 2008 3:21AM]

People trying to cash in on random not that great ideas.

[The Apple @ Aug 6th 2008 5:40AM]

What, in the Where was I?

[phanbouy @ Aug 6th 2008 3:21AM]

for some reason i feel it says "Jetpack not included" but i'm not sure why...

[Ethan @ Aug 6th 2008 3:38AM]

It secures you data only in the sense that it stops it from feeling insecure about not being worth stealing.

[Craig B. @ Aug 6th 2008 3:47AM]

When I relocate this fall to the colony of sloths a few hundred miles north of where I currently live, I'll buy this. Seems like a steal!

[Mustaine @ Aug 6th 2008 3:51AM]

3 things come to mind.. "The data on this is worth stealing", "The owner is paranoid", "The user doesn't know about file encryption"

[Greg Mcp @ Aug 6th 2008 8:26AM]

A THREE number code to unlock it!
Damn that's.... that must be MILLIONS of combinations.

[steven @ Aug 6th 2008 3:58AM]

Translation- "invest in latest Chinese encryption algorithm"

[Gunn @ Aug 6th 2008 4:16AM]

Dude, that's Japanese.

[The Apple @ Aug 6th 2008 5:56AM]

L
O
L

[Gunn @ Aug 6th 2008 4:19AM]

I do believe it will enhance security, as a decoy.

[Owen @ Aug 6th 2008 4:22AM]

imbeciles: that'll be anyone working for the UK government then. Time to buy some shares in Thanko.

[likedonduan @ Aug 6th 2008 4:43AM]

Why not just using truecrypt?

[linuxamp @ Aug 6th 2008 5:04AM]

It would look very strange if it were attached to one of these flashdrives.
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/04/sawed_off_usb_flash_drive_is_badass_in_a_nerdy_kind_of_way_just_like_you-2.html

[linuxamp @ Aug 6th 2008 5:09AM]

I'm thinking this can be improved by adding a tamper protection that fills the connector with a quick drying epoxy or sends damaging voltage down the USB pins.

[The Apple @ Aug 6th 2008 5:43AM]

Then you lose your data as well. Is it worth it?

[Russ @ Aug 6th 2008 5:26AM]

is it TSA approved?

[The Apple @ Aug 6th 2008 5:43AM]

I Highly doubt it, this thing wouldn't be certified by a dead horse.

[Greg Mcp @ Aug 6th 2008 7:29AM]

Thank you, Thanko!

The greatest company in the world.

[Stiv @ Aug 6th 2008 8:55AM]

Engadget likes using headlines, doesn't use "and" in conjunctions.

[Joe Dombrowski @ Aug 6th 2008 9:40AM]

Wow... something like this has been out for a while, and deal-a-day sites can't even sell them. Beware, if this is anything like the other version (which I got in a Woot BoC), the release will break, and you'll lose your flash drive. These are a bad, bad, bad idea.

[momotarosan @ Aug 6th 2008 11:47AM]

the best sequel to the portable safe. if only portable safes were so easy to open. I agree with Likedonduan, encrypting your file is much more reliable.

[ShadowKain @ Aug 6th 2008 1:04PM]

Just use software encryption on your network, i.e. something like Credent for mobile devices.

[Joe @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:10AM]

Here is USB Lock software that can be effectively be used to protect information on PCs and Networks.
To protect information inside PCs Laptops and usb drives.
http://www.advansysperu.com/usb_lock_standard.html
For Networks or Workgroups.
http://www.advansysperu.com/usb_lock_remote_protect.html