topic Intel 540s Default Master Password in Solid State Drives (NAND)

Intel 540s Default Master Password

CHarr8 — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 03:12:29 GMT

What is the Intel 540s default master password? Is it NULL? nothing or a specific password?

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

idata — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:28:42 GMT

Hello chrisharris,

Thank you for your question.Our solid state drives ship without a password set from factory.Unless a Master Password was manually set, it will be blank by default.Best regards,Carlos A.

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

CHarr8 — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:45:19 GMT

if a user password is set but the master password is left blank, can access to the drive still be possible via some way the through the master password? i.e inputting NULL or simply pressing enter?

if hdparm shows =65534 is that always an indication that the master password is default (in this case blank)?

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

idata — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:07:26 GMT

chrisharris,

Yes, an user password may be overrun by the master password as long as the security level is set to "high" and not "maximum". But I do believe that the master password would have had to be set before hand for this to work.- http://www.t13.org/documents/UploadedDocuments/docs2006/e05179r4-ACS-SecurityClarifications.pdf ATA Security feature Set Clarifications: Page 3, Section 1.1.3 Master Password Capability.While we don't support third party tools, I can tell you that the Master Password Revision is not as important as what comes next. In the lines after the revision code, it will tell you whether the master password is supported, if it's enabled (has been set or not), and if the drive is locked or frozen.Best regards,Carlos A.

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

CHarr8 — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 19:50:59 GMT

1. So is the revision code a reliable way of telling whether the master password is set to default or not?

2. Is there a non third party way to find out if the master password has been revised?

3. Can the 540s be accessed if the user password is enabled and the master password is left unchanged from default which according to you is left blank?

4. there is nothing after the revision code that shows whether or not the master password has been revised that I can see. Can you be more specific?

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

idata — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 23:34:35 GMT

chrisharris,

1. and 2. I will say no, but I will research this further and update you with my findings.3. Unfortunately no. When the master password is blank, it simply means it is not currently enabled. So the only password that will have any bearing on your drive's encryption will be the user password.4. If you run the "hdparm -I /dev/sda" command, (sda being your device, change this as needed) you should see the output I believed you were looking at. This will let you know if the password is enabled. Best regards,Carlos A.

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

CHarr8 — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 07:59:54 GMT

Have you found out whether the User password alone is enough to secure the drive with a blank Master password?

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

idata — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 16:11:35 GMT

Hello chrisharris,

Yes, an User Password alone is enough to secure the drive, unless there was a preexisting (user added) Master Password in place.If the Master Password was disabled, or blank, at the time that the User Password was enabled on the drive, one cannot be added later and then used to override the security.Best regards,Carlos A.

Re: Intel 540s Default Master Password

idata — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 18:40:05 GMT

Hello chrisharris,

We're following up on your thread since we have not heard back from you in a while. If you need further assistance, please let us know.Best regards,Carlos A.