New solid state drives sold by British company SecureDrives have the ability to delete their data by sending an SMS message to a special self-destruct number. The Autothysis128s and Autothysis128t are SSDs with 128GB of storage space. And once you've made the decision to delete the data, the drive is physically destroyed, with the NAND flash chips and security controller broken inside the drive's enclosure.

SecureDrives also offer security for your stored data. Firstly all data written to the drive is encrypted. Access to that encrypted data is controlled via a 2 factor authentication Token removing the weaknesses presented by passwords on PC’s.

Should you lose your data either by human error or theft then the drive is designed to continue that protection by destroying the data that is no longer in your possession. This is achieved by flipping the encryption key or by flipping the encryption key then then fracturing the NAND Flash storage and security processor, effectively giving the same result as taking a hammer to the drive.

The SDS Drive has its own power source so these security mechanisms can be triggered without the need for the drive to be attached to an external power source. These security triggers can also be activated via SMS allowing you to send an SMS message to the drive commanding it to self-destruct.

Security features of the SecureDrives SDS range:

• PIN code retries – If PIN code retries are exceeded the Drive will self-destroy
• Random Keyboard - Protects against fingerprint lifting & over the shoulder attack
• Anti-tamper Case - If the Drive case is opened the Drive will self-destroy
• Remote Data Destruction – Via SMS message from a mobile phone
• Drive Stay Alive - Allows SDS Drive to stay alive when PC is hibernated
• Low level Battery monitoring - If battery level falls below a given level the Drive will self-destroy
• GSM signal starvation - If the Drive cannot receive a GSM service for a user defined period of time then the drive will self-destroy
• Motion Detection & Reporting - Drive reports any movement to the Token
• Monitor SATAII interface - If the Drive is removed from a PC the Drive will self-destroy
• Proximity Alert - Token will vibrate & alarm if the Drive is removed from its vicinity
• Tap-to-Destroy - Token can be programmed with a tap signature. If the tap signature is replicated, the Drive will self-destroy

But peace of mind doesn't come cheap. You'll have to part with at least £967 (about $1,567) for Secure Drives' base SSD, £111 (about $180) for each touchscreen token to link the drive, and £29 ($47) a year for your GSM subscription after that.