Last Updated February 10, 2009   Product Rating   Doesn't require software for post-first time use 128-bit AES data encryption Very cost effective   Windows PCs only Backup software is folder-level only No eSATA connectivity

We all know that it is important to backup your computer's file on a regular basis, but if you want to make sure that data doesn't fall into the wrong hands, the Maxtor BlackArmor protects your backup data for you. It's an external hard drive that securely encrypts your important data that you have backed up, such as financial information, and ensures its safety. The drive has a 160GB storage capacity, which holds a fairly large amount of data and comes with some very strong encryption features as well.

The Maxtor BlackArmor's enclosure is a little more snazzy than most external hard drives out there. It has a sleek black design with brushed-metal side panels and two LEDs on the side and the Seagate Secure logo on the top of the device. On the back panel, there's only a USB 2.0 port for connectivity to your computer, that means it is lacking other connectivity options, such as Firewire and more importantly, eSATA.

When you get the drive from the factory, it comes pre-encrypted with 128-bit AES encryption, which is strong enough for the home or small business user. Keep in mind that if you are protecting really important data from people you know are out to get it (such as...the U.S. Government for example if you have something they want), the Maxtor BlackArmor doesn't offer the highest encryption level available, which is 256-bit. The included 128-bit level is just fine for most people and will deter & prevent the theft of your data. When you plug in the device, it will appear in Windows as a CD drive and will autostart similar to how a CD-ROM would in your system. (We should also mention that only Windows is supported and not Mac or Linux). When it is plugged in for the first time, the included software will prompt you for the key code on the bottom of the drive and it will then ask you to create an alphanumeric password from six to 36 characters. A handy password strength meter analyzes your password to help you determine if it is strong or weak.

Once a password has been set and the device is setup, when you plug it in, it will again autostart like a CD drive and prompt you for your password. When you enter the correct password, the Maxtor BlackArmor will then appear like a regular hard drive to your system and you can freely copy files to it using the included Maxtor backup program. The program is pretty straightforward and easy to use. It allows you to pick what folders to backup to the system or you can forget using the program and just drag-and-drop files like a regular drive. When you transfer files to the device, it is encrypted immediately and on-the-fly. If you try to plug in the device into another computer, it will still be encrypted and password protected. Also, if you take the device apart and just connect the hard drive directly to a computer, it will still remain encrypted and password protected. Once the password is set on the device, you no longer have to use the included Maxtor software to access the device, which means you can access the data on any computer in a plug-and-play fashion. If you ever want to change the password, you'll have to use a computer with the Maxtor software utility installed on it.

As we said before, the drive is not compatible with Mac or Linux operating systems because the autostart password utility is not designed for use on those operating systems. If you elect to use the Maxtor Backup program to backup your files for you on a scheduled basis, you should be aware that it is not designed for a full mirror image system backup of your operating system, applications, and files. It is designed for a folder-level backup of your files and not the entire computer itself.

The speed of the drive is not bad and the data moved to the device encrypts fairly fast and should be suitable for most users. The drive capacity is 160GB, which again, should be good enough for most users, but Maxtor does offer a 320GB version for around $170. If you work with sensitive digital information, such as accounting data or personal information, you should be using a file backup method that is strongly encrypted and password protected. The Maxtor BlackArmor does exactly that and it does it very efficiently and pretty cost effectively as well.