Zip Security
RSA Conference 2003




Data Security Features
of
ZIP® Drives and Media

Fred Thomas, Chief Technologist
(thomasf@iomega.com)
Advanced Research & Development, R&D
Iomega Corporation

Removable Data Storage Cartridge Security Issues

Iomega Zip drives and disks are unique when compared to other forms of
mainstream removable data storage. The security features focus on the
customer’s needs rather than the needs of industry-driven digital rights
management (DRM). Iomega has worked hard to make your data safe
and secure. Here are three ways Iomega products meet our customer’s
security needs:

1. Data reliability and interchangeability between a huge install
base of drives.
2. Personal information security built right into each Zip drive
and disk.
3. A factory unique media serial number on every Zip disk.


The new Iomega Zip 750MB drive

Data Reliability and Interchangeability

Iomega’s drives and disks are built flexible and strong, to protect our
customer’s data against damage in real world situations. They can be
used in almost any compatible Zip drive in the world.

The Zip disk media is flexible–allowing it to absorb the shock of being
dropped off a desktop. The media, with its important data, flexes and
absorbs the shock gracefully. Like a cat with 9 lives, Zip cartridges can
survive the stress and shock of the everyday world, unlike other high
capacity removable disks that are more fragile.

Iomega protects this flexible and resilient data surface with a modern-day
suit of armor. The cartridge shells for Iomega media are made of a robust
polycarbonate ABS blended plastic. Iomega Zip cartridges are over 2.5
times stronger and more protective than a floppy disk cartridge. The inner
walls of the cartridge shell are then lined with Iomega’s patented liners for
an extra measure of protection.

Iomega also protects the Zip drive with our patented “penny tag”
technology. These tags, seen in Figure 1, are found on the underside
corner of each Zip disk. The “latent irradiance” tag technology used in
both the Zip 250 and 750 disks is similar to the secure identification and
authentication technology used on higher denomination U.S. currency for
counterfeit detection.

These tags prevent the potential damage that may be caused by inserting
foreign materials into the drive, such as a 3.5” floppy disk.


Figure 1 – The Iomega Zip Disk’s Secure “Penny Tags”

Iomega’s quality control over the design and manufacture process
ensures compatibility between old and new Zip drives and disks. Zip
disks have an interchangeability rate of over 99.5% with Zip drives in the
field.

Personal Information Security

IomegaWare™ software makes it easy to secure information on your Zip
disk and is included free with each Zip drive. The user can set one of
three security modes for each Zip disk. These modes are: 1) Not
Protected, 2) Write Protected and 3) Read & Write Protected. These
security settings are controlled by the drive’s firmware making it nearly
impossible to break. There are 1.8x1019 possible combinations to try
(that’s 18 quintillion, or over 400 billion times 400 billion possible
combinations). Figure 2 shows the Zip disk Password Protection menu.


Figure 2 – Zip Password Protection Menu

Factory Unique Media Serial Numbers

Each Zip disk has a unique media serial number written onto it during the
manufacturing process. This number cannot be over-written by drives in
the field. The serial number is retrievable by host computer applications
using both the Iomega vendor command “getMediaSerial#” or the MS-
Windows media serial number command.

The unique disk serial number can be used by applications to support
DRM content management. It is not, however, mandated by the Zip open
file format.

Conclusion:
Customers need more than just an economical data storage solution.
They need to know their data is secure, protected, and interchangeable
with millions of users worldwide. Iomega Zip drives and disks are up to
the challenge!