Data transfer device

摘要

A data transfer device for storing data to a removable data storage device, the data transfer device being operable to: receive data to be stored 23; encrypt the data using an encryption key 22 and an initialisation vector 20; and store the encrypted data 24 to the removable data storage device. In one embodiment the data transfer device is further operable to generate the initialisation vector based upon a feature of the removable data storage device, such that the feature is unique to the removable data storage device and such that the data transfer device is operable to employ different initialisation vectors for different data storage devices. The information unique to the removable data storage device may comprise the device's serial number. The main embodiment relates to the data transfer device being a tape drive and the removable data storage device being a tape cartridge. Advanced Encryption Standard Counter mode (AES-CTR) may be employed. A corresponding decryption technique is also disclosed.