Full size SD cards often have the sliding lock button to make the card temporarily read only. The advent of micro SD means often this mechanical lock is gone and so this SD Card Locker steps in to help you take control of your cards.
This device can receive either a full size SD or a Micro SD in a card adaptor. It is powered via a micro USB and has a simple single button interface to make changes to the cards. It has 2 locking modes, a temporary reversible card lock but also a permanent lock mode. Temporary lock and unlock is as simple as inserting a card and toggling the button. For a permanent lock you have to insert the card whilst holding down the button and an LED pattern is displayed to warn you you are about to permanently lock the card.
Locking SD cards can be useful if you want to create perhaps a card with an operating system which cannot be written too. It can also be useful if you are using SD cards for some kind of promotional give away. Also mentioned as a use case is forensic work and data recovery from SD cards where you want to ensure you are only reading from the card and cannot write over data.
Presented in a nice laser cut case the SD Card Locker, CRImier, has mad a well thought out design. The case reinforces the micro USB socket and the unit powers off automatically on SD card removal. The firmware can be updated by the user and they have taken lots of steps to ensure you don’t accidentally permanently lock an SD card!
