I don't understand how hardware encrypted USB drive works
 

Someone sent me this news item:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-co...secure-key-3z/

It is about a hardware encrypted USB flash drive that is compatible with Linux. I have a standard USB flash drive formatted as EXT4 and using dm-crypt that I store a lot of data on. The article really doesn't explain how hardware encryption works. The drive has a keypad on it for typing in a pin to decrypt it. I assume it must have some rudimentary processor and operating system on the flash drive itself? It can't all be "hardware" encryption.

"features a durable polymer-coated keypad that's used to enter the passcode to unlock the drive."

https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/apric...in-pictures/7/

Quick start guide in box.

All USB drives have a controller in them that works out where on the drive the data is (to be).
All these people have done is add a keypad and a little extra firmware code that restricts access to that controller.