<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186175</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STRAUB WALTER W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92718</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>319093.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.8100</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-08-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>29130.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.8100</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-08-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13038.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.8100</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-08-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.4800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25581.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.7100</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22438.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.5800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-07-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24683.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.0400</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-09-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24684.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.7100</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-09-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16456.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.3800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-10-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>74.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.7000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-09-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>26180.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.3800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>37400.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.8200</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-09-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>26180.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.5600</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-09-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>26180.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.2100</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>26180.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Walter W. Straub</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

