Portable data-storage device configured to enable a plurality of host devices secure access to data through mutual authentication

A system configured to enable a plurality of host devices secure access to data stored on a portable data-storage device through mutual authentication, said system comprising:

• a first host device;
• and
• a portable data-storage device, comprising:
• a storage-device enclosure;
• a data-storage medium enclosed in said storage-device enclosure;
• a data-writing element configured to write data to said data-storage medium;
• a data-reading element configured to read said data from data-storage medium;
• and
• an electronic authenticator configured to mutually authenticate said portable data-storage device with a first host device and with at least a second host device of said plurality of host devices;
• wherein said electronic authenticator is configured to enable secure access to said data on said data-storage medium by said first host device if said electronic authenticator mutually authenticates said portable data-storage device with said first host device;
• and
• wherein said electronic authenticator is configured to enable secure access to said data on said data-storage medium by said second host device if said electronic authenticator mutually authenticates said portable data-storage device with said second host device.

A method for enabling a plurality of host devices secure access to data stored in a portable data-storage device through mutual authentication, said portable data-storage device including a data-storage medium configured for storing and accessing said data, and an electronic authenticator configured to mutually authenticate said portable data-storage device with a host device of said plurality of host devices, said plurality of host devices including a first host device and a second host device, and such that a first communication link is configured to couple said portable data-storage device to said first host device by, and a second communication link is configured to couple said portable data-storage device to said second host device, said method comprising:

• the following machine-executable operations performed with said electronic authenticator:
• mutually authenticating with said electronic authenticator said portable data-storage device and said first host device;
• enabling secure access to said data stored in said data-storage medium by said first host device;
• mutually authenticating with said electronic authenticator said portable data-storage device and said second host device;
• and
• enabling secure access to said data stored in said data-storage medium by said second host device.