SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - February 2, 2010) - SPYRUS today announced the Secure Pocket Drive, a new class of USB encryption device pre-loaded with the Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009 operating system. Secure Pocket Drive turns a commodity microSD card into a militarized security device. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 delivers the power, familiarity, and reliability of the Windows operating system in a componentized form, enabling mobile workers in the public sector around the world to plug the Secure Pocket Drive into untrusted home computers, kiosks, and public computers. The host PC supplies only the keyboard, mouse, display, and a minimum of 512MB of RAM. The host PC's hard drive is not even used, preventing data contamination or leakage. Trusted Mobility™ in a pocket has arrived.

"Microsoft is excited to work with SPYRUS and help organizations in the public sector meet customer requests from around the world," said Ashwin Kulkarni, senior product manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft Corp. "Leveraging Windows Embedded Standard 2009, SPYRUS' high-assurance Secure Pocket Drive provides end users with secure access to vital information when and where they need it."

SPYRUS developed its first hardware-based pre-boot authentication system for Windows over 10 years ago. Secure Pocket Drive builds on this system, using advanced hardware security techniques to provide the most secure, trusted operating environment for the mobile user, with nothing left behind after the drive is removed. Secure Pocket Drive uses a patented solution that includes a secure boot loader to authenticate and check the integrity of the device using on-board hardware security, and it will not boot the Windows Embedded Standard 2009 operating system if the device has been tampered with. After pre-boot authentication, Secure Pocket Drive loads the componentized Windows Embedded Standard 2009 and allows access to the user's applications and data files. End users can safely and securely perform multiple functions, including network/internet browsing and scheduling in the Windows Embedded Standard 2009 environment. Because everything is running directly from the Secure Pocket Drive, using untrusted and potentially malware-infected computers is not an issue.

The Secure Pocket Drive uses FIPS 140-2 Level 3 tamper-resistant epoxy potting with built-in anti-tamper and self-destruct mechanisms to protect against unauthorized access to the device and data. The protected sectors of the device's memory, the Windows Embedded Standard 2009, and all data and application files are encrypted with advanced, hardware-based XTS-AES 256-bit encryption, fully compliant with the newly approved NIST SB800-38E security standard. Finally, Suite B On Board™ hardware security (ECDSA P-384, EC-DH, AES-256, SHA-384) supports the full set of Suite B cryptographic algorithms for all security services.

Secure Pocket Drive can be customized to meet enterprise-specific requirements. SPYRUS is able to deliver unprecedented scalable, flexible solutions for portable data security for the remote or traveling user. Secure Pocket Drive will be available pre-configured with 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB microSD cards.

"SPYRUS has been working with Microsoft Windows Embedded for our secure USB security device for several years," said Tom Dickens, Chief Operating Officer for SPYRUS. "All security for the Secure Pocket Drive is designed, developed, and manufactured in the U.S.A., mitigating risks from untrusted parts entering the supply chain, a problem of increasing concern to governments worldwide. The Secure Pocket Drive brings Security to the Edge™ for a Windows Embedded Standard 2009-based operating environment that is securely protected, self-contained, and portable, making it the only truly secure Trusted Mobility™ solution to meet the growing demands for protection in cyberspace."

About SPYRUS, Inc.

SPYRUS holds patents in the U.S. and abroad that enable solutions for secure authentication, secure communication, and full disk encryption, as well as patents relating to data protection and rights management for digital content. Secured by SPYRUS™ security technology is designed, developed, and manufactured in the USA to meet FIPS 140-2 standards. SPYRUS products support the strongest commercially available cryptographic algorithms, including elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), AES, and SHA-2, collectively known as Suite B. In December 2007, the Hydra PC Personal Encryption Device became the first, and as yet the only, commercially available USB encryption device to be approved for protecting U.S. Government tactical classified data at the Secret level and below, when used in accordance with the approved operational security doctrine. SPYRUS is headquartered in San Jose, California. See www.spyrus.com for more information.

SPYRUS, the SPYRUS logo, Hydra Privacy Card, Hydra PC and Secure Pocket Drive are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SPYRUS, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other jurisdictions. All other company, organization and product names are trademarks of their respective organizations.

Contact Information: SPYRUS Media Contact: Dan Chmielewski Madison Alexander PR, Inc. 714-832-8716 949-231-2965 (cell phone)