The USB-Key does not require anyexternal supply or battery

Tag : AES implementation
Future Technology Devices International today announced theavailability of its USB-Key security device. Using a unique,hard-coded identification number, the device can interface to anyUSB host or hub to provide application software access control(security dongle) or as part of a more sophisticated key-basedphysical access control.
During manufacture, the USB-Key has a unique FTDIChip-ID number burnt into it. This number is only readable over the USBinterface, making it ideal for PC or embedded securitydevelopments.
The USB-Key, compatible with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 specifications,derives its power from the USB interface and does not require anyexternal supply or battery.
In addition to providing a unique identification number, a userwriteable EEPROM area is available to allow further encryption techniques.
Examples include reading the FTDIChip-ID, further encrypting it andwriting it back to the EEPROM. By using this approach, industrystandard encryption techniques such as DES, AES, or Blowfish couldbe implemented.
Also available is an A ctiveX control, SafeGuard-IT , which can utilise the FTDI-ChipID feature of the USB-Key toprovide asymmetric public and private key encryption. Encryptedinformation based on the FTDIChip-ID, the private key and anoptional password can be programmed back into the USB-Key’sintegrated EEPROM.
This provides an easy to deploy method of software protection witha high level of security. With this approach, SafeGuard-ITprotected software packages need only be compiled once and can thenbe distributed with just two additional files to decrypt theinformation, the public key and the SafeGuard-IT DLL.
FTDIChip-ID drivers, supporting all popular operating systems,together with further programming documentation and code examplesare available for free download at http://www.ftdichip.com/Projects/FTDIChip-ID.htm
The SafeGuard-IT ActiveX control and the SafeGuard-IT DLL file canbe downloaded free of charge at http://www.ftdichip.com/Projects/SafeGuard-IT/SafeGuard-IT.zip
The FTDI USB-Key is available now priced $8.99 for 1,000 pieceorders. About FTDI
Future Technology Devices International (FTDI) specialise in thedesign and supply of silicon and software solutions for theUniversal Serial Bus (USB). FTDI offer a simple route to USBmigration by combining easy to implement IC devices with proven,ready to use, royalty-free USB firmware and driver software.
The company’s single and multi-channel USB peripheral devicescome with an easy to use UART or FIFO interface. These populardevices can be used in legacy USB to RS232/RS422 converterapplications or to quickly interface an MCU, PLD, or FPGA to USB. Awide range of evaluation kits and modules are available to evaluateFTDI’s silicon prior to design-in.
Vinculum is FTDI’s brand name for a range of USB Host / SlaveController ICs that provide easy implementation of USB hostcontroller functionality within products, and utilise FTDI's triedand tested embedded firmware to significantly reduce developmentcosts and time to market.
FTDI is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Glasgow,UK, and has regional offices in Oregon, USA, and Taipei, Taiwan.More information is available at http://www.ftdichip.com .