Delivering a choice of AES-128 or 256 bit hardware encryption and storage capacities ranging between 250 and 500GB, the Aegis Padlock provides seamless real-time encryption to keep data secure even if the hard drive is removed from its enclosure. Moreover, it's quite easy to use as well, since a one-page Quick Start Guide and software-free setup will get you up and running in no time.

As expected from a portable storage solution, the Aegis Padlock has a very compact design and is quite lightweight, tipping the scales at just six ounces. Plus, the drive sports a 16-point omni-directional shock mounting system, protecting the drive from drops and knocks, while the integrated USB cable eliminates the need for cords and makes the connection process an easier one.

And since we're on this subject, it's also worth mentioning that the Aegis Padlock is compatible with virtually any system with a powered USB port and ships preformatted in NTFS for Windows support, while also being compatible with the Mac OS 10.2 or greater and Linux operating systems.

“With the never-ending number of data breaches and laptop thefts, securing your data is an ongoing priority to both individuals and enterprises,” said Mike McCandless, Apricorn's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With affordable pricing and simple setup the Aegis Padlock Secure Drive leaves you no excuse to not lock down your data.”

Pricing for the Aegis Padlock (which is available as we speak) depends on the specific storage capacity and type of encryption it provides. So, pricing for the 128-bit AES models range between 99 and 139 US dollars, while the 256-bit AES version is more expensive, the 500GB Aegis Padlock going for around 160 US dollars.

According to McCandless, the Padlock enclosure is protected by unique torque screws, which are difficult to remove without a specialized torque screwdriver.

"However, with the 128-bit or 256-bit hardware encryption used on the drive, removing the drive from the enclosure would be useless to any individual," explained McCandless. "All the data on the drive would be encrypted and without access to the encryption key the data would be useless."

McCandless also noted that the Padlock was "targeted" at the corporate world, but confirmed the device was currently being evaluated for government and military use.

"The Aegis Padlock has removed the barriers that made secure hard drives unattractive to most users including cost and setup. The Aegis Padlock has a software-free design, enabling it to be used on any system. Without software, the Aegis Padlock is perfect for corporate deployments where users may not have authorization to put software on their system," said McCandless.

"It is so easy to use that it can be setup in just minutes. The low power design of the Aegis Padlock is competitive with many standard USB drive available on the market today and includes features such as hardware encryption, shock mounting, and integrated cables."

The 128-bit AES Padlock is available for $139, while the 500GB 256-bit AES model retails for $159.

"With no software installation required for setup or operation, the Aegis Padlock Secure Drive provides stress free deployment in corporate environments," the company said. "Its Administrator Feature allows enrollment of up to ten unique user ID’s and one administrator, making it a useful business collaboration tool."

According to Aproicorn, the drive is completely bus powered, meaning the drive doesn't depend on an AC adaptor. The drive also features a 16-point omni-directional shock mounting system to protect the data from rough handling, and the integrated USB cable makes it easy to plug and play anywhere without the need to drag along extra cable. Although formatted for Windows-based systems, users can re-format the drive for use with a Mac or Linux system without altering the drive's encryption abilities

Additionally, the specifications reveal that the drive has a transfer rate of up to 480 Mbp/s (via a USB 2.0 interface), has an RPM of 5400, and features an average seek time of 12 ms. The drive also comes in three unique flavors: 250 GB, 320 GB, and 500 GB, with pricing ranging from $99 to $159. Interested consumers can purchase the drive directly from Apricorn's website.

As you can see, the keypad is integrated on the hard drive case itself. The drive is encrypted in hardware, so even if you pull it out of your own computer, it would still require security codes when you plug it into another computer. You can choose between 128bit and 256bit encryption, and you can also set an admin password that will be able to override the regular code.

This device is bus-powered, so there will be no need for you to carry additional power cords in your bag. The USB cable has its own crevice on the device, making it easy to fold and attach. The Apricorn’s Padlock Secure Drive is semi-ruggedized and has shock proof mounts.

Depending on your choice of encryption and HD size, the price for this device ranges from $100 for a 250GB 128 bit model to $160 for a 500GB 256bit version. This will work well with OS X, Windows and Linux.

There are a bunch of different software options that can lockup your data, but the most secure hard drives are the ones with some hardware locks. The most popular security feature tends to be some kind of biometric lock, a fingerprint scanner or something like that, but fitting this onto a hard drive could be expensive and overkill. That doesn't stop some laptop companies from integrating biometric scanners into their computers. Apricorn's Aegis Padlock Secure Hard Drive takes a different approach. It comes with an old school keypad which enables you to select a custom PIN so that the data can be unlocked. In addition, the data on the hard drive is encrypted via AES-128 or 256-bit encryption.

There is a handy administrator feature which allows you to set up 10 different user IDs. These users can be allowed access to the encrypted data. We think that if you've got valuable information that you want to keep secure, you can use this Aegis hard drive. We like how it uses hardware and software locks to protect your data. The Aegis HD is available $100 to $160 and is available in 250 GB to 500 GB editions.

Apricorn's Aegis Padlock is a portable USB hard drive, but one that looks like it came from a spy film: its front is dominated by a giant keypad lock. We hope to see how well that security works in practice.

MacNN Rating: 5 Stars
Product Manufacturer: Apricorn
Price: $160 (500GB, 256-bit encryption)

The Good Truly "invisible" when locked. No noticeable slowdowns in use. Good build quality. Real OS independence.

The Bad Extra software-based security would be helpful.

Features and Build Quality

Apricorn offers the Padlock in 250GB, 320GB, and 500GB capacities with your choice of 128-bit or 256-bit encryption. Our review unit is the flagship Padlock model boasting 500 GB of storage and full 256-bit AES encryption, though we wish the company would make the 256-bit encryption standard; it's a small change that shouldn't add a $20 premium for the same storage.

Right away, the Padlock has a noteworthy change in design compared to most other drives: it has a short USB cable fixed on the drive that that securely clips into the side of the hard disk for storage. Some portable drives have this, but it's always pleasing when it appears.

The build quality of all of the components is very high. The keys on the front of the padlock are large and they provide good tactile response. The only user feedback on the unit is a small LED that changes from red, to blue, to green based on the status of the hard drive. To preserve data integrity in the event of a drop or spill the Padlock also sports some shock-dampening internal supports.

User Experience

When plugging the Padlock into a computer for the first time, the system (which can run Linux, Mac OS X or Windows) doesn’t even recognize that the hard drive is attached. Not until the user enters their password will the hard drive actually power up the USB connection and be accessible. As soon as the Padlock is unplugged from the computer it automatically relocks itself and will need the password once again. Once the password is entered, the Padlock functions just like any other external drive. We experienced no noticeable speed delays during our testing, despite the encryption, and found file copy speeds to be acceptable.

All administration of the Padlock is done via the keypad. Trying to memorize the keystrokes to access and manipulate all of the menus could be cumbersome, but with the directions in front of us we found the administrative features easy to operate. The Padlock can handle up to ten user passwords and can vary their length from six to 16 characters. In the event that all passwords are lost or the unit must be reset, all data on the Padlock will be erased as the drive must be reformatted and repartitioned to be functional -- a permanent but potentially career-saving policy.

As such, Apricorn's drive is for all intents and purposes uncrackable, or at least until it's mounted. That remains the one weak point: if a physical or network-only attack occurs while the drive is unlocked, it's about as vulnerable to data theft as an unguarded drive. That said, there are ways to protect individual files once they're exposed, and the majority of data theft seen with USB drives occurs when they're stolen, not when they're plugged in.

Wrapping Up

Our top-end unit retails for $160. Even when considering the price drop for a 128-bit version, other 2.5-inch portable hard disks with comparable storage can be found for around $100. But assuming hardware encryption is a must-have, we would say that the $40 to $60 price premium for keypad controlled encryption is reasonable. With a three year warranty, a variety of capacities, and advanced hardware encryption we think the Aegis Padlock line is a good value for the extra layer of security. The shock protection and build quality simply refine the experience further. If highly secure, yet portable data storage is what you’re looking for, this is likely your first choice.

Apricorn aims to fix that at the hardware level, by using real-time AES encryption. This way, even if the drive is removed from the hard drive enclosure, the data is still safe- with either 128-bit or 256-bit encryption. Of course, you’ll be using the drive via USB, and what’s most important are things like compatibility (Mac, Linux, or PCs are all supported) and software (nothing to install means it’s easy to use and setup).

We’ve been testing the Apricorn Aegis Padlock 500 GB hard drive for a while, and like that it is surprisingly lightweight, especially considering the durability of the drive and case. There are internal shock-dampeners that offer a decent level of protection, we dropped it a few feet when the drive was off to no ill effect. We also liked the large buttons on the surface of the drive that made it truly unique- the keypad serves as the unlocking method, allowing you to setup a unique PIN code to secure your data. One of the coolest features is that up to ten different keys can be set up, with ten accounts and ten sets of protected files.

Like all good portable USB drives, this one is USB-powered from a single cable- no extra cords or power blocks needed. The hard disk runs at 5400 RPM, and transfer speeds weren’t as fast as with other drives that we’ve tried, but this isn’t a drive sold on speed but on security. We weren’t completely convinced by the security of the keypad (fingerprint residue and all), but Apricorn also makes a biometric version with a fingerprint scanner that costs a bit more. We didn’t love the super-short USB cable, though it is pretty common on drives and it did clip nicely to the side of the drive when not in use.

At $160, this top-end drive is quite reasonable considering the security features, on-the-fly encryption, and high-quality build. Various models are also available, including different sizes and encryption level, and run from $100 on up. They also make a neat solid state version that we haven’t tried, as well as the aforementioned biometric model. For that price, the feature is almost worth it for the cool factor alone- everyone who sees the drive asks about it, and probably assumes rightly that we are secret agents. Available online from Amazon and Apricorn directly, and in some stores.