Toshiba created a new drive with an interesting security feature: If it gets placed in another system, the drive erases everything.

It’s called the Toshiba SED (Self Encrypting Drive). It’s a 2.5 inch, 7200 RPM drive in sizes up to 640 GB. The drive has a AES-256 encryption and Opal Security Subsystem Class (Opal SSC). But it has even another feature. One that can erase the drive.

It’s a setting you can choose. If the drive gets taken out of the selected device and put in another to read the data, the drive can be set to delete all it’s information. You can also choose to only “deny” access, but what fun would that be?

There is a hybrid mode, too. You can choose certain areas of the disk to be wiped. Therefore, not all data could be lost. I suppose you could have a folder on the drive that opens to a video of Dennis Nedry saying “unh-unh-uh, you didn’t say the magic word” (Jurassic Park reference)…

This drive is meant for higher-end systems and high security computers. Point-of-Sales machines would benefit from this drive if certain data gets stored. Client and service kiosks as well.

While the standard computer user doesn’t need this level of security, it would be great if you have documents that you don’t want people to see. Just remember: if you set it, then try to change the drive, you loose it all.

Of course, to use the drive, you will need to have a computer that supports it. You would also have software that would control the encryption. That way if you want to safely move it to another computer, you can change the settings to move it, move the drive and reset the protocol.

Great for higher security computers. Bad if you forget the function is there in the drive…