As we all know only too well, data security is quite a vital issue nowadays, especially if we're talking about sensitive information, the type of which certain people would “kill” to get their hands on. And to add an extra layer of security for truly concerned users, Freecom has released the Hard Drive Secure 2TB, an external storage solution that requires authentication by an RFID card in order to be accessed.

So, according to the manufacturer, its external USB HDD can be locked and unlocked by presenting a tag (in credit card format) to the drive. Only this unique combination will enable users to employ the drive and access their data, the entire 2TB of it.

Freecom is providing customers with two security cards, namely one user keycard and one master keycard, both being available in credit card format, which will lock and unlock the drive for use. The cards employ RFID technology, but are also AES encrypted, thus ensuring that nobody will be able to copy and replicate them.

The HDD features an aluminum enclosure that measures somewhere in the vicinity of 15.5 x 14.8 x 4.3 cm, which means that it shouldn't take that much space around the user's desk. Furthermore, the Freecom Hard Drive Secure is pre-formatted (FAT-32) and ready for use on both Windows and Mac computers, since this thing should work quite well with all platforms.

Freecom is selling its Hard Drive Secure 2TB solution for around 350 Euro (495 US dollars), which is kind of expensive, compared to other (less secure, though) solutions available out there. However, the fact that this thing has been pretty much permanently out of stock since it was first announced leads us to believe that either these things are hugely successful and are flying off the shelves or nobody's even pre-ordering them, so they're not yet available on the market.


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