We're all concerned about identity theft and online security these days. GuardID Systems said enough is enough, and created the ID Vault, a rugged little USB device with smart-card technology. You can store usernames and passwords for your online accounts and then automatically sign on without having to re-enter your info, preventing nasty hackers from stealing your data.
The ID Vault is something like an ATM card. You can't automatically sign into an account without having the ID Vault plugged in. And you can't bypass the ID Vault without entering your PIN.Sounds pretty cool in theory, right? Well I decided to take this bad boy home for a test drive. (Literally, check out that tire-tread pattern!)
After loading the software on my computer (Windows XP only, folks), a little icon appeared in my system tray. I plugged the USB device in, and a screen immediately popped up asking me to create a PIN. Then I merrily began entering my usernames and passwords. For my e-mail account and all other non-financial sites, I just had to sign in online, and the ID Vault asked me if I wanted to save my data. But for financial sites, like my bank's, I had to go through a list of available companies to find the right one, and then enter my information.
The ID Vault worked just as it should, prompting me for my PIN when I visited various sites and then automatically logging me on. Another way I could sign on was to just click on the icon and then choose from the different accounts saved. But what would happen if the ID Vault wasn't plugged in? I disconnected it and tried accessing my bank account. A warning popped up telling me that I needed to plug in the device before it signed me on. Of course, I could still go to every site and dutifully enter my username and password if I wanted to, but that would leave me vulnerable to all those spying eyes.
You can pick up your own ID Vault for $49.95. And check out the quote from PC Mag's own John Dvorak on the back of the box!
Post by Angela Chang
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October 11, 2006 5:32 PM
After loading the software on my computer... Do you need this software to use the ID Vault? Can I carry just the device with me, say to a friend's house, and use it? Or do I also need to carry the installation disk, and modify every PC on which I want to use the ID Vault?
October 12, 2006 3:47 PM
I like the idea of password management through an authentication scheme like a smartcard or something like that-it's pretty neat, even if it does have the inherent vulnerability of storing a ton of passwords in a device that's not someone's brain. Still, this is pretty neat. I'd like to know what the answer to Mike's question is-whether I can use it on multiple computers or whether this is really a security method that I can keep my passwords with me and not saved on my local machine at home. Good stuff!
October 18, 2006 3:29 PM
This thing is sweet. Security in my pocket. Good UI as well.
March 9, 2007 11:09 AM
This device is really quite simple to incorporate into your life. My wife got it for me for Christmas, and its much safer to use than the card I used to carry in my wallet with my login and passwords for my financial sites.