Products for the Paranoid

Keys And Keyboards

Kanguru Wizard

Kanguru's $50 security key plugs into your USB port and allows you to create a virtual drive--a secret, encrypted volume that resides on your hard drive and is accessible only when the device is connected. Designed for a single user, the key does not protect all of the data on a PC, just the files located in the encrypted portion. You can create up to eight virtual drives, each as large as 2GB. We found the Wizard exceptionally simple to install and use. An included cable, slightly longer than 3 feet, is helpful for use with PCs whose USB ports are on the back. But if you're looking for a key that protects every file you have, SecuriKey Personal Edition is a better choice.

, $50, Kanguru Solutions

Best Buy: SecuriKey Personal Edition

It doesn't get much simpler than SecuriKey. When this $130 key chaina?? size security token is connected to the USB port, you (or another person) can use your PC. When it's unplugged, the PC locks down, switches off, or goes into sleep mode (your choice). You can even configure SecuriKey so that it requires both the security token and your Windows password for log-on access, a smart way to defeat intruders who steal your token. An excellent setup guide makes SecuriKey a snap to install. You also get a backup key, just in case you lose the first one or want to enroll a second user. Two drawbacks: SecuriKey is more than twice as expensive as Kanguru Wizard, which provides similar (though less comprehensive) key-based protection. And SecuriKey could use a cradle or an extension cable to connect to large towers with USB ports in the rear. (To deal with this scenario, you could buy a USB hub.)

, $130, Griffin Technologies

FingerTip ID Board G83-14000

Cherry's stylish black keyboard, which combines smart card and biometric authentication technologies, is a classic example of a great idea marred by sloppy execution. With this $280 device, you can log on to your PC or network using your fingerprint. In addition, you can insert a smart card in a slot on the keyboard as verification for digital signatures and for password-protected applications such as home banking. The security features are a pain to configure, because the setup files and documentation are hard to find. The slim printed manual doesn't step you through installation; instead it directs you to PDF manuals located on the setup CD. The fingerprint reader enrolls up to ten digits. Aside from the integrated biometric sensor and smart card slot, the keyboard is conventional.

, $280, Cherry

Goldtouch ErgoSecure SC 2.0

For $160, you obtain a product that unites an adjustable keyboard with a smart card reader that replaces the user password for log-on security. To log on to Windows, you insert the smart card in a slot above the function keys. This log-on security works fine, but the device doesn't store Web site passwords--a major drag. Another quibble: The setup program may confuse you. For instance, at one point the app displays a fingerprint-enrollment screen for the keyboard--which lacks a fingerprint reader. (The company told us that the same software is used for Goldtouch keyboards that do have biometric devices.) The keyboard divides into two halves, allowing you to adjust it vertically and horizontally to minimize wrist strain.

, $160, Goldtouch Technologies

Key Tronic S-Card

This security keyboard, priced inexpensively at $76, features a smart card slot in its upper-right corner. Installation may prove tricky. For one thing, Key Tronic supplies only the hardware driver files, and if your computer runs Windows 9x, you'll need to go to Microsoft's Web site to download the Microsoft Smart Card Base Components (that is, software drivers) yourself. The half-page user guide is shamefully devoid of setup information, too. On the plus side, hardware setup is a breeze: You simply plug the standard keyboard connector into the computer's PS/2 port. The S-Card also provides Windows log-on security. Our opinion: You'll find better security products elsewhere.

, $76, Key Tronic