Doubt it? Everything from the belongs-on-a-battleship looks to the AES encryption software to the 6-18 digit PIN screams "you will not get the 1TB of porn inside me."

Even the touchscreen keypad is paranoid, as it changes randomly each time you use it so the spies you think are on your tail can't memorize the PIN. One touch drive erase means the hentai secrets get scrubbed instantly the moment your parents those spies catch you.

Pricing starts at $488 for the 750GB version and $652 for the 1TB. [Slashgear]

The Padlock isn't the first hard disk to have its own keypad (Lenovo's ThinkPad USB Secure Hard Drive gets that honor), but the Padlock's 256-bit AES encryption is unique.

Prices for drives with 128-bit encryption are: $99 (250GB); $109 (320GB); and $139 (500GB). 256-bit encryption is a $20 extra in each case.

• Hardware Encrypted Drive - Real-time 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption seamlessly encrypts all data on the drive, protecting the drive even if it is removed from its casing

• Extensive Shock Mounting - Protects your data with a 16-point omni-directional shock mounting system

• Worry free 3 year warranty

• Compatible with any OS - Windows, Mac & Linux

[Apricorn via Electronista]

The iPhone certainly isn't as ubiquitous for corporate use as BlackBerry or even Windows Mobile, but that's starting to change, and Zdziarski is very concerned that the iPhone 3GS's security puts sensitive data at unnecessary risk. He claims that with easily-available software, anybody can break into an iPhone 3GS and start extracting data within two minutes, and access everything on the phone within 45. After reading this, we could see why companies might just be reluctant to trade their BlackBerrys in for a shiny new iPhone 3GS. [Wired]

When intruders do try to hack a quantum exchange, photons in the network become scrambled and the rise in the error rate causes that line to get shut down. The exchange is then automatically rerouted through a different node so that the sender and receiver remain in continuous secure contact. Scientists are currently trying to market it to banks and other holders of sensitive information.

Is it really unbreakable though? Hard to say. Currently there aren't any methods to fully eavesdrop on information while avoid detection, but researchers at MIT were able to nab about 40% by reading the momentum of photons. I can bet that hackers will be all over this, now that the scientists have more or less issued a direct challenge for them to try. [BBC]

The Mobile ID Reader boasts an 8GB capacity, so when hackers crack the “encrypted formats feature,” they'll have access to tons of personal and privileged data. Other features include a sunlight-safe touchscreen and a capacitive fingerprint sensor. The device is meant to be used by authorities at event checkpoints, like its first tryout at the Euro Cup 2008 soccer tournament, but it shouldn't be long before you see it at your local Trader Joe's, checking up on the hippies. [Wired]

It was previously thought that data held in so-called "volatile memory" was only retained for a few seconds after the machine was switched off. But the team found that data including encryption keys could be held and retrieved for up to several minutes.

There's a simple defense. If you shut down your laptop and let it sit for several minutes before going into a dangerous environ, there is little chance that the keys would be recovered from volatile memory. But seriously, when was the last time anyone shut down their laptop completely? [BBC News]

The hardware encryption is one aspect of the IronKey, but the online component is another. When you log in to the IronKey website (which again requires both your password and your IronKey to be physically plugged in to your machine), you can activate their secure web-browsing service which turns FireFox into a malware-protected, "stealth surfing" application. Other security-nut features include a "potting" technique that fills the innards of the key with black goo, waterproofing it past military standards and preventing hardware crypto-analysis. $79 will get you 1GB of peace of mind, but the biggest option is the 4GB drive for $149. [IronKey via EverythingUSB]

The drive comes with the Lexar dashboard software for both Mac and Vista (although the OS X version required a driver install and a reboot) that was easy to use and easy to create mounted encrypted partitions on the drive. After setting aside 500MB of our 1GB drive on the partition—which was then mounted as a separate disk—we could drag and drop files onto it and it would be completely unreadable (it just looked like a file) when the drive was on another machine unless you knew the password.

What's also convenient is the ability to encrypt and decrypt files that are not on the drive, meaning you can use the drive to encrypt half the files on your hard drive if you wanted. Except if you lost the drive, well, you'd probably have to go buy another one. All in all, their claims of this being the cheapest drive with the e-ink and 256-bit AES encryption makes this drive worthwhile in sizes from 512MBs up to 4GBs. An 8GB version should be available soon. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Lexar]

XCD Patent [via New Scientist Tech]

Its encryption can be configured more precisely, too, where you can designate specific folders that can only be accessed with fingerprint authentication. It's also able to synchronize its data with a PC via Outlook. Pricing and availability wasn't announced yet. – Charlie White

External hard disk with fingerprint sensor [AVing]

This week at Lifehacker: Build yourself a solar-powered wifi booster for the backyard. Your mousing wrist feeling a little achy? Train yourself to mouse lefty (or righty, lefties.) PayPal your buddy your share of the dinner bill with your cell phone. Add encryption to Gmail and sync your Google calendar with your mobile phone or handheld.

With the Secure Phone Miser (well, at least two of 'em, since the encryption is dependent on both ends of the telephone conversation having a unit installed in order for it to work), users configure the device with one of over 1 million unique codes, allegedly making your phone conversation completely immune against things such as phone taps. In the event that you need to talk to multiple parties simultaneously, the Secure Phone Miser supports up to 10 links, conference call style. Of course, it only works with regular telephones, that is, not cellphones.

LEDs and audio tone signals let you know whether or not a call in properly encrypted and the optional 9V battery lets you become a mobile Artful Dodger.

You can grab the Secure Phone Miser right now for $239, and $195 for each additional unit (remember to grab at least two!), which is still significantly cheaper than other encryption devices we've seen on the market.

Secure Phone Miser [Spy Gadgets via The Red Ferret Journal]

Available now for $179.99 (40GB) and $339.99 (120GB).

LaCie SAFE Mobile Hard Drive with Encryption [LaCie via The Gadget Blog via Oh Gizmo!]

British officials are said to be in talks with Microsoft on ways of finding or creating a backdoor so that the government can have access to the contents of the hard drives of its constituents. Here's hoping Big Brother will need special permission before doing such things, and that our own Department of Homeland Security doesn't catch wind of this.

UK holds Microsoft security talks [BBC News]

This week at Lifehacker: That sound your computer's fan is making? It roughly translates to "Help! I'm being strangled by cat hair!" Get under your PC's hood and evacuate the dust bunnies partying on your video card.

Speaking of video, YouTube junkies can use a little Javascript voodoo and some free software encoding to save YouTube videos to your iPod or PSP.

So you're freaked out enough about co-workers getting into your bank account that you type in every password on the web every time, eh? Here's how to secure saved Firefox passwords - especially handy for the copy of portable Firefox you're toting around on that thumb drive. Be extra paranoid and encrypt all your thumb drive's data on the fly.

Remember when you were 15 and you bought that guitar because you wanted to be just like Van Halen? Well, Mom's still got that 6-stringer in the basement and a few free guitar tutorial vodcasts for your iPod can get you started down that road to rockstardom. Finally, iPod-lovin' runners, leave that stopwatch at home and get hoofin'. This useful Windows script generates interval running playlists set to start and end songs just when you're scheduled to switch gears.