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However, if your fingerprint isn’t recognised (you get six tries), it doesn’t lock you out - it just prompts you to enter a password. Indeed, from the initial dialogue box you can just choose to enter a password and bypass the fingerswipe completely.

Memory Corp makes much of the speed of the device, claiming 19MB/s write speed. I copied a 124MB video file in 19.5 seconds, which equates to 6.4MB/s, which is nowhere near the quoted 19MB/s but is still a passable figure.

Overall, after my initial problems, I was impressed with the device. The fingerprint scanner does work well, as long as you’ve created your fingerprints correctly and it does add a level of convenience to security. You don’t even need to know a password, though you do have to have one as a master backup.

In terms of the capacity you get for your money, it’s not great value. You can pick up a bog standard 256MB value flash drive for less than £10, whereas this is around £35 inc VAT. You can also pick it up in 512MB, 1GB and 2GB capacities, with 4GB on its way. You’ll currently pay, £62 for a 1GB version, inc VAT.

What you’re paying for is the extra Biometric hardware and the software, which with the auto-login and encryption is useful. Ultimately, if security is a concern, it’s worth paying for.

Verdict

A Biometric fingerprint scanner on this USB key protects your data and means that to gain access you can swipe instead of type. But the fact that you can still get round it with a password leaves it all a bit flat. However, the autologin feature and file encryption means that if USB key security is a concern, this is a worthwhile device.

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