Lexar JumpDrive TouchGuard 256MB

The JumpDrive TouchGuard is a truly innovative flash memory key that makes 256MB of data pocket-friendly and moves it quickly and safely, thanks to a built-in fingerprint scanner and encryption software. At $79, it costs more than flash drives that only store files, but costs only half the price of other fingerprint flash modules.

At 3.1 inches long and weighing just more than half an ounce, the TouchGuard is bigger and heavier than other keys with similar capacity, but it easily fits into a pocket. The rubber wrap-around cap holder is a little awkward, but it does more than make sure you never lose the cap; it prevents slippage when the drive is used on a desk. An included USB extension cord makes it easy to connect the drive and still keep it in sight.

Inside is 256MB of flash memory along with a processor that handles access rights and encryption duties. Using the key for basic storage and recall is as easy as it is with other thumb drives. Plug it in, and it sets itself up as the next available drive letter and yields 245MB of usable capacity, of which nearly 19MB is taken up by software and an easy-to-follow multimedia tutorial.

To use its advanced features, load the software that comes on the key-keep in mind that the TouchGuard is Windows-only. You unlock it by using Fujitsu's tiny MBF310 SweepSensor fingerprint detector. Rather than pressing your entire finger on the active area, you swipe your finger over a sensitive strip. The drive has raised edges to help line up the finger, so it is much more reliable than other sensors found on notebooks and Tablets. The device can hold ten separate identities.

After registering your favorite finger, any file or folder on the drive can be scrambled using Brian Gladman's open-source 256-bit AES encryption program, which only allows access to those with the correct fingerprint. As a backup, you also establish a traditional password, and can set the software to demand both. Over the course of a week of use, the TouchGuard never yielded to the wrong finger, but sometimes required several attempts. If you like, you can store all your Internet Explorer favorites, as well as Web-page passwords for up to about 200 sites on the key, allowing you to stop using the same user name and password for every page that requires them.

Performance is the TouchGuard's strongest suit, reading and writing data at up to 95.2 Mbps and 31.4 Mbps, respectively, with our test notebook. That's about as swift as the fastest USB keys can operate these days, although it took nearly a minute to encrypt or decrypt a 12-minute MPEG video. Unfortunately, the drive doesn't encrypt the directory listings, so an enterprising hacker already knows where to look. And after an encrypted file is opened, it needs to be encrypted again for continued protection.

It's a little clunky, but Lexar's JumpDrive TouchGuard costs the same as competing drives that come with half as much memory. This versatile memory key is the fastest and safest way to save, move, and secure data.