Corsair Flash Padlock 2 with Bitlocker?

[Bananenbieger]

Hi!

 

I need to encrypt the drive on my computer including the system partition with Windows (Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit) with Bitlocker and wonder if I could use a Corsair Flash Padlock 2 device for the Pre-Boot Authentication.

 

Since my computer doesn't come with a TPM I can only use a keyfile stored on a USB drive for authentication and I also can't use a PIN or password for additional security, so here the PIN used with the Padlock 2 would come in handy.

As far as I understand how the Padlock 2 works, it doesn't depend on any software running under an OS and it should work with any device that supports normal USB flash drives including new TVs or the Xbox 360, so I expect it should also work on a computer with Bitlocker before Windows did boot.

Am I correct and did anyone maybe ever try this?

 

Oh and I know about TrueCrypt and some other software for encryption but it needs to be Bitlocker in my case ;):

 

Thanks :):

[SJohnson]

Yes, you can use a Padlock 2 to store your BL key. In order for it to work, you have to 1st format your drive as a regular FAT. FAT32 and NTFS will not work.

[RAM GUY]

I would suggest just using a normal flash Voyager for the use.

[Bananenbieger]

I would suggest just using a normal flash Voyager for the use.

 

The reason why the Corsair Flash Padlock 2 caught my eyes is because it allows you to use PIN and it encrypts the data on it with AES. If I would store the key for Bitlocker on that and it really works independently from any OS it would be a perfect device for me to use with Bitlocker since only if you know the PIN you could unlock it and use it to authenticate to Bitlocker and boot Windows.

 

If I would use a normal USB flash drive what the flash Voyager seems to be and it would get lost or stolen with my computer anyone could boot it up since like I said you can't set up a PIN in Bitlocker if your computer doesn't come with a PIN.

 

All I want to know if the encryption of the Corsair Flash Padlock 2 really works totally independent and Bitlocker could read from it if I use it for authentication before Windows boots.

 

Thanks ;):

[RAM GUY]

Once you enable a PIN number the data stored on the drive is encrypted, meaning that if you remove the flash controller and install another controller the data will still not be accessible.

[Bananenbieger]

Thanks for another fast reply, however it doesn't seem to me that it is yet clear what my real question is, please let me explain one more time :):

 

 

I am using Bitlocker to encrypt my whole hard drive including the system partition with Windows on it. However since my computer doesn't come with a TPM I can't authenticate with a PIN/password when I turn on my computer, Bitlocker only gives you the option to use a keyfile stored on a USB flash drive, which must be connected to the computer when you turn it on, otherwise Windows won't boot.

The problem I have with this is, when I use a normal USB flash drive for this anyone could do this if for example my computer along with the USB flash drive should get lost or stolen.

 

Here I wonder if the Padlock 2 could help me out making this more secure since it lets you secure it with a PIN which in my case could protect the Bitlocker key file.

 

My question is now, if the whole process of unlocking the Padlock 2 is totally independent from operating systems like Windows since I want to use it with Bitlocker before Windows boots. When I turn on my computer and Bitlocker asks for the key file, would the Padlock 2 work, could I unlock it and it would work like a normal USB flash drive after that?

 

Thanks again and greetings :):

[RAM GUY]

Yes it will just unlock the drive then connect the Flash drive.