Nitrokey is a USB stick that provides secure encryption and access to email, data, the Internet, local networks and computers. Among the security solutions it offers is the complete security of the secret keys that are always stored within Nitrokey.
Their extraction, according to the company, is impossible, which makes Nitrokey invulnerable to any such attempt. The PIN chosen by the user to access the USB stick is protected by a special security mechanism in case of loss or theft. Both the hardware and the software are open source to ensure high compatibility with different operating systems and applications. Let's look at it in more detail:
For what uses:
- Secure connections via One Time Password service (e.g. Google, Dropbox, etc.)
- Hardware encryption up to 64 GB.
- Encryption for email with S/MIME and OpenPGP systems (e.g. Outlook, Thunderbird, Evolution)
- File and hard drive encryption (e.g. TrueCrypt).
- User authentication on local computers (e.g. Windows, Linux) and networks (e.g. Firefox, OpenSSH, OpenVPN, IPSec, OpenID).
Advantages over conventional security software:
- Secret keys are always stored in Nitrokey. They cannot be exported. All sensitive cryptographic operations are implemented within Nitrokey.
- The PIN chosen by the user is protected in case of loss and theft from brute-force attacks.
- Protection against computer viruses, trojans, phishing attacks and other malicious software.
- Its design provides protection even against sophisticated physical attacks with laboratory equipment.
- Secret keys can be securely created in Nitrokey to prevent them from being leaked by attackers.
Advantages over conventional security devices:
- Its secure implementation can be verified by the user himself to ensure the absence of backdoors and security flaws.
- Secret keys can be securely generated by you instead of trusting some other off-the-shelf program to do it.
- Compatible with a wide variety of software applications such as Outlook, GnuPG, Enigmail, Mozilla Thunderbird, and OpenSSH.
- Your own custom applications can be easily integrated due to its open source code and drivers.
- Growing user support and evaluation helps to continuously improve the product and ensures high quality.
Other advantages:
- Windows, Linux and MacOS X are normally supported.
- The additional administrator code allows hierarchical use of the product.
- Three independent RSA keys, with a maximum length of 4096 bits each.
- It is possible to import existing keys as well as create backup copies of them.
- High security thanks to the integrated smart card based on Common Criteria 5 certification
Its prices range from 15 to 200 Euros depending on the use and capacity you choose.
