Kingston Technology has announced the IronKey Locker+ 50 G2 (LP50 G2), a new hardware-encrypted USB flash drive designed for users who need secure portable storage. The device was revealed on March 16 (US time) and builds on the company’s existing IronKey lineup with updated security features and compliance support.
The LP50 G2 uses FIPS 197-certified AES 256-bit hardware encryption in XTS mode, a standard commonly used to protect sensitive data against unauthorized access. Since encryption is handled directly by the hardware, stored files remain protected regardless of the host system the drive is connected to. The device also meets TAA compliance requirements, making it suitable for enterprise and government environments.
Kingston has included a dual-password system, allowing both administrator and user accounts. This setup provides an additional layer of control, particularly in shared or managed environments. Users can set either traditional complex passwords or longer passphrases. The drive also enforces strict limits on incorrect login attempts. After 10 failed tries, the user account is locked. If the administrator password is entered incorrectly 10 times, the device automatically encrypts and wipes all stored data.
To further improve protection, the LP50 G2 includes safeguards against BadUSB attacks and brute-force attempts. A built-in virtual keyboard is available to reduce the risk of keylogging, while the outer casing features an anti-fingerprint coating aimed at minimizing physical traces of usage.
In terms of hardware, the drive uses a USB-A interface with up to 5Gbps bandwidth. Kingston rates it for sequential read speeds of up to 145MB/s and write speeds of up to 115MB/s, which aligns with typical USB 3.2 Gen 1 performance.
The IronKey Locker+ 50 G2 will be offered in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities. It supports both Windows and macOS systems and includes a five-year limited warranty. Pricing details have not yet been disclosed.
