Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 Review –  Like to store your important documents, presentations, product sales report, or some private photos of yourselves (ahem) in your USB flash drive? There are times when you simply have to copy these files into a USB flash drive to be carried on  a product launch event or a meeting. Problem is, what if you accidentally drop it on the road? How can you stop the peeping Toms to have access to your privacy?

Well, if you store your files inside the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2, you will never be worried about these things. It automatically protects all of your data inside with a dual-layer of hardware encryption and password protection. Whoever plugs the USB flash drive in must enter a password which is securely encrypted in the flash drive itself!

The Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 is of metallic design, for style, but also for durability. It is using a cap design, which is similar to the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 and HyperX 3.0 (rather than a swivel). This way, the device is much more protected (from dust, water, and such) although you have to be careful not to lose the cap while the DataTraveler Locker+ G2 is in the USB slot.

There is also a built-in key loop which makes it easy to attach a key ring into it.

Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 Review – Setup

It is then as simple as following the step-by-step wizard which comes to the point where you need to enter the password to access the contents of the DataTraveler Locker+ G2.

To enforce security, your passwords must be 6-16 characters long and contain at least three of the following: upper case letters, lower case letters, digits, and special characters. Though this may annoy some people, it is imperative that you keep the password as safe as possible (besides, you’ll be carrying this around, won’t you?). There is also a password hint which can be displayed on the screen where you need to enter the password in.

Once this first step is completed, the drive will appear and you can start transferring files in and out of the drive. The next time you try to access the drive, you must type in the password you set this up with before.

If you forgot your password, you have to reset it unfortunately (which means that the contents of the drive will be wiped as well). If someone steals your drive and tries to break in, the drive will also be locked down and reformatted after 10 invalid login attempts.

Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and also Mac OS X.

Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 Review – Read/Write Performance

According to Kingston’s official specification, the DataTraveler Locker+ G2 has a 10 MB/s read and 5 MB/s write speed. Testing it with Crystal Mark shows different results:

It’s actually identified as having 18 MB/S read and 14 MB/s write speed, which is even better. Now obviously this is half the speed of the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 and HyperX3.0. However, don’t forget that the device has a built-in secure hardware encryption  – which means that data will have to be encrypted upon transfer.

Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 Review – Conclusion

Kingston Data Traveler Review Conclusion

THE KINGSTON DATATRAVELER LOCKER+ G2 IS A PERFECT COMPANION FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO CARRY SENSITIVE FILES INSIDE THEIR USB FLASH DRIVE. WITH A BUILT-IN SECURE HARDWARE ENCRYPTION, KINGSTON GUARANTEES THAT YOUR FILES WILL NEVER BE FOUND BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO ACCESS THEM. THEIR ONLY OPTION IS EITHER TO REFORMAT THE DRIVE OR LET THE DRIVE REFORMAT ITSELF AFTER 10 INVALID ATTEMPTS.

SECURING THE CONTENTS IS AUTOMATIC ONCE YOU’VE SET YOUR PASSWORD UP. YOU CAN SIMPLY START TRANSFERRING FILES AS IF IT IS JUST A REGULAR USB FLASH DRIVE. JUST WORRY ABOUT WHAT FILES YOU NEED TO CARRY WITH YOU AND LET THE SECURITY BIT TO THE DATATRAVELER LOCKER+ G2 ITSELF.