-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AtE2IKeFPfgTauR0Zb0O+Gnk2fOpQ3qVCSNpe29pC2+X+ke7EKBsU2nzJIgKYfqW
 xAyq6stP1AuNY/BQLwZTcQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-06-015926.txt : 20060801
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-06-015926.hdr.sgml : 20060801
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060801173727
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-06-015926
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060801
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060801

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAFENET INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000850313
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				521287752
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4690 MILLENNIUM DRIVE
		CITY:			BELCAMP
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4109317500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4690 MILLENNIUM DRIVE
		CITY:			BELCAMP
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21017

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INFORMATION RESOURCE ENGINEERING INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Panjwani Prakash Hotchand
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001371091

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20634
		FILM NUMBER:		06995451

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		410-203-9415

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4511 SAMMUAL COURT
		CITY:			ELLICOTT CITY
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21043
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000850313</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAFENET INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001371091</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Panjwani Prakash Hotchand</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4690 MILLENNIUM DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BELCAMP</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-10-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-10-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-10-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-10-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-05-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-05-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-09-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4375</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-09-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4375</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-09-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4375</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-09-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value .01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4375</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kevin Hicks of SafeNet, Inc. for Prakash Panjwani</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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