The authentication of a data receiving device prior to the transfer of data from a data storage device to the data receiving device over a wireless radio frequency communications channel is described. One disclosed embodiment comprises conducting an authentication communication exchange in which one or more of an authentication request received from the data storage device and an authentication response sent to the data storage device is transmitted via an optical communications channel. This may allow the data storage device to ensure that a data receiving device requesting the transfer of data is a desired recipient of the data before transferring the data.