Chrison takes security seriously with three specific portable devices available, all using different technology and design methodology. The BioPico, as its name suggests, is a 128MB biometric USB storage device, small enough to look unimpressive, but big enough to be used safely without being too small.
Portable storage devices can be small or large but this one is small and sexy (if you can call a security device sexy). It is about the size of a normal key fob and the actual device sits inside its black outer casing like a hand in a well fitting glove. With a mini fingerprint reader this is a secured storage device using biometric technology.
For Macintosh and older operating systems, such as Windows 98/SE, the CD provided contains the necessary drivers. Connect the USB extension cable (if needed) and attach the BioPico to it. At this point, the computer will recognize it and install the required drivers, or in the case of older OSs an 'Add New' Hardware Wizard will appear.
Going to the My Computer icon, click to see all your drives, choose the newly created drive and double click on the Trek Thumbdrive Touch Navigator. You can then set master login details and register the master fingerprint, then add users to the account to allow access. Features include the ability to format the drive, choosing the area to be protected. The master user may also enter the restricted area with password only authentication. We encountered no false positives while using this device and found it to be extremely user friendly as well as secure.
The BioPico is completely plug-and-play in machines using the more current operating systems
so that data can be used and worked on at different machines as and when the authorized user
requires. It also has the benefit of up to 256MB of storage capacity and comes in 16, 32, 64, and 128MB versions.
When connected and in use, the LED is illuminated and, in order to eject the device the usual undocking procedure should be followed to avoid data loss. The developer maintains that the drive can be overwritten up to one million times.
Apparently, the data stored on it can be accessed without corruption for 10 years but, of course, there is no guarantee that the computers or their respective operating systems used in 2013 will still be able to support BioPico.
