Need an expensive and colorful device to store your extremely important personal or professional data? Want a USB stick with a self-destruct function? Look no further. Consumers may be surprised to learn that Victorinox Swiss Army’s latest products, the Slim and Slim Duo USB lines, have just one function. Marketed as an innovative and decidedly “Bond-esque” luxury flash drive, the new Swiss Army USBs are ready for anything, that is, unless you need a can opener or knife. Buyers can now not only store their personal data, but also keep it protected via passwords and a vaguely described “unhackable” feature. If you’re like me, you might be curious as to how this slim tech can be guaranteed to be unhackable, yet very few details exist. Additionally, the device packs state-of-the-art encryption technology and is being heralded as the fastest USB product currently on the market.
Sounds pretty smooth, right? Here’s the catch: the cheapest model, a standard 4GB drive, will run you a not-so-standard $40 USD. The devices are also water and shock resistant, which might help to justify the the price hike. On the other hand, the expansive 128 GB mega-drive (retaining the same product dimensions) will self-destruct your wallet with a scorching $350 price tag. If you’re looking for mobile storage on the cheap, you can grab a 4GB USB stick from Amazon.com for just $7.92.
For those interested in a larger storage device, Amazon has you covered with a 128 GB drive for about $210, available here. If the advanced features: security, water and shock resistance, size, self-destruct feature, and fashionable colors are worth the hefty premium, the Slim or Slim Duo might be the best choice for your needs. Nevertheless, most of these features are available for less, though perhaps not together in one package. Frequent flyers may be impressed with the TSA approved design and blade-less constituency, but this is hardly a novel design concept for mobile storage devices.
All in all, a USB drive with a self-destruct function seems pretty creative, though it seems unlikely that the majority of consumers would actually find a use for this function. Despite the fact that I work for the CIA and am often transporting sensitive data between countries, it doesn’t seem economical to use this function, especially taking into consideration the line’s luxury pricing.
Still need one for your covert operations and time-sensitive missions? The drives are available in five colors (shown above) and six sizes: 4GB, 8GB 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB (Slim Duo only). You can purchase yours at Amazon and Swiss Knife Shop, among other retailers.