Transcend's New USB Drive Offers Antivirus

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Transcend's new value-priced JetFlash V15 series of USB flash drives come pre-installed with Trend Micro USB Security.

On Sunday, Transcend announced that it teamed up with Trend Micro, Inc. to offer the latter company's antivirus software--Trend Micro USB Security--preloaded on the new JetFlash V15 series of USB flash drives. The combination ensures end users that they can share, store, and manage files on the drive without having to worry about viruses, malware, and other security threats.

On the hardware side, the USB drives come in four capacities: 16 GB, 8 GB, 4 GB, and 2 GB. Transcend said that the 16 GB version provides read speeds up to 32 MB/s and write speeds up to 16 MB/s, however all models are capless and feature a retractable USB connector with lock-switch, protecting the drive from damage during travel.

As for the antivirus software, Trend Micro USB Security comes with a 90-day trial and immediately loads when the drive is inserted into a USB port. When connected to a PC with Internet access, the software will download and install the latest security updates directly onto the drive.

Currently the JetFlash V15 drives aren't showing up on Newegg and Amazon, however they're available directly from Transcend online here, costing consumers $12.70 (2 GB), $14.30 (4 GB), $23.40 (8 GB), and $43.20 (16 GB).

Kevin Parrish
8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Kaiser_25
    Sounds kinda like possible useless bloatware to me...people shoudl know how to take care of their stuff by now.
    Reply
  • maigo
    hopefully they give you the option of not running it, it seems everything comes with that auto install crap
    Reply
  • ipeacefrog
    The SanDisk Cruzer USB Drive has offered McAfee AV trial pre-installed for years now.

    Link - http://www.u3.com
    Reply
  • hellwig
    kaiser_25Sounds kinda like possible useless bloatware to me...people shoudl know how to take care of their stuff by now.Sure, you can protect your own computer as much as you want, but what if you have to use someone else's computer? If I'm sticking my delecate data into another computer, I'm gonna use as much protection as I can. I'm sure there's plenty of self-replicating virii that automatically install to and from a USB drive.

    And If you aren't using other computers, why do you need a USB drive in the first place? Carrying one around your neck on a lanyard makes you look like a dork, it's not a status symbol.
    Reply
  • nachowarrior
    hellwigSure, you can protect your own computer as much as you want, but what if you have to use someone else's computer? If I'm sticking my delecate data into another computer, I'm gonna use as much protection as I can. I'm sure there's plenty of self-replicating virii that automatically install to and from a USB drive.And If you aren't using other computers, why do you need a USB drive in the first place? Carrying one around your neck on a lanyard makes you look like a dork, it's not a status symbol.
    almost that whole first paragraph seems like a sexual metaphor. haha.

    anyway, this has been coming for a while and will soon evolve from "usb drives that come with added software" to "you buy the software on a usb drive"
    Faster, easier, and will soon be almost as cheap as DVD's Don't see why not eh?
    Reply
  • SAL-e
    As for the antivirus software, Trend Micro USB Security comes with a 90-day trial and immediately loads when the drive is inserted into a USB port. When connected to a PC with Internet access, the software will download and install the latest security updates directly onto the drive.
    Anyone who has not disabled Auto-Play / Autorun is asking for troubles and no AV will save him/her. AV is so dam easy to bypass.
    Reply
  • jhansonxi
    Was announced for India in May. Is this a USB drive with an autorun Windows version, a bootable Linux Live USB, or does it have an embedded micro? An autorun Windows version wouldn't be all that special, especially if there the app is not in a read-only block to prevent infection of itself.
    Reply
  • caskachan
    Or create Autorun.inf FOLDER in your Usb , then no virus can create the file anymore
    Reply