Re: USB Storage Devices

["Rowe, Ken" <kenrowe () UILLINOIS EDU>]

Ironkey sent this out last week in regards to this topic.

Ken.

Ken Rowe
Director of Enterprise Systems Assurance and Information Security
University Office of Administrative Information Technology Services
University of Illinois
50 Gerty Drive, MC-673
Champaign, IL 61820
E kenrowe () uillinois edu
O 217.265.0415
C 217.778.7693
F 217.333.6991
-----Original Message-----
From: IronKey, Inc. [mailto:IronKey_Inc () mail vresp com] 
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 3:46 PM
To: Rowe, Ken
Subject: IronKey Announces Anti-Malware Protection for USB Flash Drives

Click to view this email in a browser 
http://hosted.vresp.com/277603/e251831b8f/1312001543/36c250f28b/


November 24, 2008

The media has recently reported incidents involving the spread of the
W32.SillyFDC worm, a low-risk piece of malware that sometimes infects
PCs and networks via USB flash drives. The IronKey secure USB flash
Drive — which was developed in part with support from the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — was designed from the outset
with an array defenses against malware and crimeware. First and
foremost, the same hardware-based approach that makes IronKey
encryption the world’s most secure also makes an IronKey drive a
trusted platform for mobile data. In fact, because authentication is
performed in hardware using unique digital certificates, an IronKey
flash drive is more secure than a typical personal computer. This
emphasis on trust even extends to the manufacturing process: all
IronKey drives are manufactured and provisioned in secure U.S.
facilities. 

To further ensure that our enterprise and government customers are
protected against the latest threats, IronKey has announced a new
Anti-Malware Initiative, which is detailed in the press release below.
For more information go to:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?IronKeyInc./e251831b8f/36c250f28b/ee7e6d5c04.



IRONKEY PRESS RELEASE
==========================================================================


IRONKEY ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-MALWARE INITIATIVE FOR USB
REMOVABLE MEDIA AND FLASH DRIVES

Anti-Virus and Remote Protection Updates Keep IronKey Devices
Protected Against Latest Threats

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Nov. 24, 2008 - IronKey, maker of the world's most
secure flash drive, today announced a comprehensive initiative to
protect portable and mobile media from viruses, worms, trojans,
botnets, crimeware and other malware threats. Enterprises and
government agencies have been under attack from targeted malicious
software (malware) that is attempting to penetrate protected networks
by bringing malware and crimeware into these networks. It installs
malicious code into USB removable media when used on personal
computers at home and while traveling, and then spreads into corporate
and government networks when the device is used on those networks.
With over 120 million USB flash drives purchased every year, this
problem is significant and is growing exponentially as cyber criminals
expand their activities.

IronKey devices are intelligent, secure storage devices with strong,
two-factor authentication and on-board security co-processors. As
security processor costs become more affordable, it is possible to
embed increasingly sophisticated layers of protection inside portable
devices to protect enterprise and government networks from media-borne
malware and crimeware. This enables IronKey secure storage devices to
provide the highest levels of anti-virus and anti-malware support in
hardware.  Hardware support for anti-malware provides an unbeatable
layer of protection for mobile devices to prevent malware from
spreading onto enterprise networks.

The IronKey Anti-Malware Initiative Includes the Following:

Always-on hardware encryption. IronKey USB flash drives encrypt all
stored data with military grade AES CBC mode encryption without
installing software or drivers. Malware cannot circumvent or disable
the encryption of sensitive stored data, making this a safe repository
for storing confidential information, intellectual property and
protected personal information.

Malware-protected software and firmware updates. IronKey devices can
be updated remotely via a secure update service. All firmware and
software is validated by industry leading 2048-bit RSA digital
signatures, preventing the installation of malicious software or
firmware onto IronKey devices.

Secure manufacturing processes. Unlike many computer hardware products
that are manufactured in offshore, uncontrolled factory environments,
all IronKey devices are designed and manufactured in the USA, which
dramatically reduces that risk of hostile factories implanting malware
onto silicon or memory chips during the manufacturing process.

Secure provisioning and quality assurance processes. IronKey devices
will not function without secure and digitally signed and verified
firmware and software.  These software and firmware images are
developed, security scanned, anti-malware scanned, and digitally
signed at IronKey premises in the USA. All IronKey devices are
inoperable until they are loaded with verified and scanned software
and firmware from IronKey headquarters.  This provides a security
validation that is unmatched in the industry, ensuring that IronKey
devices have not been tampered with in the manufacturing or supply
chain process.

Real-time anti-malware scanning. IronKey is integrating best-of-breed
anti-malware scanning technology to prevent malware from untrusted
computers from infecting IronKey secure storage devices, and then
spreading into corporate and government networks.  IronKey has
numerous patent-pending technology innovations that leverage the power
of the on-board crypto processor to enable anti-malware protection in
the hardware on the IronKey device to protect data and networks
without requiring the installation and operation of software or
drivers on host computers.

Top-tier US based ASIC security processor design team. IronKey's
continued innovation in the areas of intelligent security processors
on very small form-factor portable storage devices, particularly USB
flash drives or memory sticks, allows IronKey to deliver the world's
most secure flash drive with intelligent on board anti-malware and
anti-crimeware technology.  IronKey has a top-tier ASIC security
processor design team that develops the world's most secure,
intelligent security processors for secure storage and authentication.
The integration of intelligent security processors into standard USB
flash drive formats provides affordable, easy to use, and effective
protection against data loss, data leakage, and malware for enterprise
and government customers.

IronKey Enterprise remotely managed devices provide revolutionary
security capabilities at an affordable price. IronKey devices are
available to enterprises and government agencies starting at $79 for
1GB of secure, protected storage. When plugged into a computer with
network access, IronKey devices receive automatic updates to
applications, malware protection, authentication tokens and security
policies. IronKey also protects against malware being transferred to
the device, and malware cannot disable the device's hardware-based
security features.

IronKey understands the requirements of highly-secure networks.
IronKey's initial research was partially funded by the Department of
Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. The
IronKey secure USB devices can withstand both simple and sophisticated
attacks and all IronKey products have been FIPS 140-2 Level 2
validated.

IronKey Enterprise solutions can be centrally managed so their use is
governed and managed by an organization's access-control and security
policy that allows only trusted and privileged users to access the
device.  Once authorized, the IronKey device will fully integrate with
the host malware and virus inspection software from best-of-breed
vendors including McAfee, Symantec, Checkpoint, Kaspersky, NOD32,
Trend, Microsoft and other various anti-malware solutions.

About IronKey

IronKey products and services bring the power of authentication,
encryption, identity management and privacy to consumers and
businesses around the world. We blend world-class security expertise
with product design that emphasizes usability, simplicity, and
accessibility. All IronKey products are FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated.

The IronKey Team consists of experts in consumer devices, information
security, privacy and secure banking technologies, with prior
executive roles at Apple, Arcot Systems, Earthlink, Entrust, First
Data Corp, GeoTrust, PayPal, RedCannon, RSA Security, Teros,
Tumbleweed, Valicert, and VISA.

Founded in 2005, IronKey is privately held and based in Los Altos, CA.
For more information, visit: www.ironkey.com.

______________________________________________________________________
This message was sent by IronKey, Inc. using VerticalResponse

IronKey, Inc.
5150 El Camino Real
Suite C31
Los Altos, California  94022

Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy:
http://www.verticalresponse.com/content/pm_policy.html