Cherry introduces keyboard with NFC and secure USB connection

Cherry, best known for its switches for mechanical keyboards, has introduced the Secure Board 1.0, a security-focused keyboard. Among other things, the keyboard encrypts keystrokes and has an integrated smart card reader.

The keyboard is connected to a computer via USB, and when the secure mode is enabled, the board authenticates itself with a certificate, so that communication is encrypted and keyloggers cannot register keystrokes. The smart card reader in the middle of the keyboard can handle cards based on the ISO standard ISO 7816 and the communication protocols T=0 and T=1.

In addition, Secure Board supports communication via rf and nfc. As for RF, there is support for cards and tags that operate on the basis of ISO 14443A and -B and ISO 15693. The standard for NFC is ISO/IEC 18092.

Beneath the board’s keys are “LPK” switches, which are Cherry’s implementation of typical rubber dome switches. The weight of the Secure Board is 840 grams. The length of the USB cable is 1.80 meters. The company releases the product in white and black for an amount of 70 euros.

Cherry has previously released keyboards for the business market with smart card support, but the Secure Board is the company’s first keyboard with NFC support and an encrypted USB connection.