I just setup a Seagate/Maxtor Black Armor hardware encrypted drive. When you setup the device, and before you choose your password, you have to enter in a 25 character "Security ID" which looks like a software license key, and is printed on the back of the drive's case.
Why would you have to do this? Since it's printed on the outside of the case, why doesn't the device already know this serial number internally, and why would it care? Initially my skeptical mind figured this is actually the AES key, or a back-door encryption key. But with more thought, I figured that perhaps it's because the device is manufactured in China, and it's a clone prevention technique? Maybe the sticker is added to the device when they are packaged in the US, and the security ID number is needed to activate the encryption? This prevents a Chinese factory from creating clone devices using their controller? Anyone from Seagate on this list that can comment? _______________________________________________ FDE mailing list [email protected] http://www.xml-dev.com/mailman/listinfo/fde
