Setting A Self-Destruct Pin - Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3z User Manual

Setting a Self-Destruct PIN

For certain users, it's important to have a "last-resort" level of security where sensitive data
falling into the wrong hands must be avoided. The Secure Key's Self-Destruct PIN defends
against physically compromising situations by erasing the key's contents, leaving it to look
as if it never had any data written to it. *USE WITH CAUTION* When this mode is activated
and the key is unlocked with the Self-Destruct PIN, it will effectively perform a crypto-erase
on the key, deleting all of its data. Additionally, the encryption key will be deleted and a new
encryption key will be created to take its place. When this Self-Destruct PIN is deployed,
the key will unlock and the
unlocked. The key, however, will need to be partitioned and formatted before it can be used
again. The previous Admin and User codes will be deleted in the crypto-erase and the Self-
Destruct PIN will then become the new Admin PIN to unlock the key.
The Self-Destruct PIN can be set by either the Admin or the User. If the Admin sets the
Self-Destruct PIN, only the Admin can disable or change the PIN. If the User sets the Self-
Destruct PIN, both the User and the Admin can change or overwrite the PIN.
Note: The Self-Destruct PIN must be different from the Admin PIN and User PIN.
1. By default, the Self-Destruct feature is disabled. To allow the Secure Key to be set with
a Self-Destruct PIN, Enter the Admin mode. (Hold
LED blinking, enter the Admin PIN and press the
solidly.
2. Press the 7 + 4 buttons together*. The
point, the Self Destruct PIN can now be set by the Admin while the Key is in the Admin
mode, or it can be set up at another time by the User (after the Key is unlocked with the
User PIN) with the following steps.
3. Press + 3 for five seconds. The
4. Enter the Self-Destruct PIN and press . The
then will return to
5. Re-enter the Self-Destruct PIN and press . The
steadily and then will return to either the Admin mode (indicated by the
glowing steadily) or the unlocked state if created by User.
*NOTE: To disable / discard a Self-Destruct PIN, Press the 7 + 4 buttons together for
a second or two; successful disablement / removal will be indicated by three
blinks. To re-enable the Self-Destruct PIN mode, press the 7 + 4 buttons again and
three GREEN
Repeat steps 3 through 5.
GREEN
LED will glow solidly as if the key is being normally
RED and BLUE
LED blinks will indicate that it's ready to accept a new Self-Destruct PIN.
button.) The
GREEN LED will blink three times and at this
RED and BLUE LEDs will blink alternately.
GREEN
LEDs blinking alternately.
GREEN
+ 0 for five seconds – with
BLUE
LED will blink three times and
LED will momentarily glow
RED
LED will glow
BLUE
LED
RED LED
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