REVIEW – We all have data that we need to protect, data like passwords, tax information, financial investments, social security and passport numbers, security clearance information, medical and dental records, and so on. It’s data that we don’t want anyone else to see, and we really don’t want it stolen and used for identity theft. We need that data to be stored external to our computer so that it can’t be stolen via malware or held hostage with ransomware. We need this data encrypted, but we don’t want to figure out the details of encryption ourselves. We need it to be stored on a gadget small enough to toss into a home safe when we’re out of town or into a purse if we take it with us. For this kind of data, an encrypted flash drive like the iStorage Datashur PRO+C is exactly what we need.
What is it?
The iStorage Datashur PRO+C is an encrypted flash drive from iStorage. It uses USB-C to connect to the computer, a built-in keypad to enter the PIN, and automatic hardware-based encryption to protect the data. iStorage is a company that develops “innovative ultra-secure portable data storage devices.”
What’s in the box?
- iStorage Datashur PRO+C with a protective sleeve
- USB-C to USB-A dongle
- Quick start guide
Specifications
- Port: USB 3.2 (Gen 1)
- Transfer speed: Up to 310 MB/s read and 246 MB/s write
- Certification: FIPS 140-3 Level 3 (pending)
- IP rating: IP68 (pending)
- Capacity: 32 to 512 GB
- Hardware encryption: AES-XTS 256-bit full disk
- Hashing: 256-bit SHA
- PIN protection: 8 to 15 digits
- Platform: Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Chrome, Citrix, VMware, and others
- Battery: 3.7 V lithium-polymer rechargeable
- Dimensions: 3.15 x 0.8 x 0.4 inches
- Weight: 0.9 ounces
Design and features
The iStorage Datashur PRO+C is a svelte little gadget. It’s only slightly bigger than a normal USB stick and stands out with a bright blue color. The housing and its case are both made of aluminum, which protects from water, dust, and physical damage. The top of the drive has a numeric keypad and three small LEDs. One end has the USB-C port, and the other has a wire ring for clipping on a lanyard or keychain. The entire drive has a design that says, “I mean business.”
Installation and setup
The PRO+C comes with a quick start guide that, as the name suggests, provides just enough information to get up and going. Before using the drive for the first time, I have to setup an 8 to 15-digit PIN. After inserting the gadget into a USB port – the PRO+C comes with a dongle that allows me to use a USB-A if I need to – I followed the instructions, which include entering this PIN twice, and it was ready to go.
Performance
Using the keypad is a bit of a pain on this device. I have to press buttons while it’s plugged in and do so gently so that I don’t bend the port. For a personal computer like my Mac mini, this is virtually impossible, because the ports are all around back. Even for my work computer, a MacBook Pro, this is still difficult, because it sits back to one side behind my monitor. This device is easiest to use in a computer that sits near the front of your desk and has a front-facing port USB port.
To make things easier for my testing, I found a USB extension cable that I had lying around; this allowed me to bring it out front and to hold the drive in my hand while entering the PIN. If you get this drive, I highly recommend spending a few extra bucks and picking up an extension cable, whether a USB-A or a USB-C.
Once I added the cable, I found that using this drive could not be any simpler. I simply connect it to the USB port of my computer, press the key button, enter my PIN, and then press the key button again. The LEDs flash and eventually, the green one turns on, letting me know that it’s ready to go. At this point, the PRO+C functions just like any other flash drive. It shows up as DATASHURPPC in the sidebar of finder, and I can copy, edit, and delete all files that I want. When I am done, I click the eject icon in Finder, wait for the blue light to finish flashing, and then remove the drive. The LED blinks red to let me know everything is secure. Easy peasy.
For most home users, this is all you will ever need to know: How to setup a PIN and how to unlock and use the drive. There are a few other situations that might be handy to know, and so iStorage includes a digital copy of the user manual on the drive itself and on their website. A few examples include:
- If someone sees you enter your PIN, you would change it to another PIN.
- If you want to make sure nothing on the drive can be changed, you would set it to Read-Only mode.
- If you want to give the drive to someone else to use, you would reset it.
I tested all of these features and found they worked just as the manual describes. There is one very important detail: All three of these changes should be made when the drive is NOT connected to the computer. The PRO+C has an internal battery that provides the power necessary to make these changes.
For those who work in an office, it’s possible to set two different PINs, the normal PIN for an employee and an admin PIN for administrators. This would allow an administrator to always have access to company data on the drive, even if the employee forgot the PIN, left the company, or whatever.
The buttons on the keypad are very small, approximately 5mm square. Those with larger fingers may find them a challenge to use.
The largest size PRO+C drive is 512 GB and costs $324. By comparison, a vanilla 512 GB drive is only $49.99 on Amazon, making the PRO+C drive 7.5 times more expensive. This kind of comparison, however, is not really fair, because a vanilla drive doesn’t offer the same protection and capabilities. Protecting your most valuable data is worth the extra cost.
What I like
- Hardware-based encryption to protect valuable data
- Physical protection against dust, water, and damage
- Easy-to-use, built-in keypad
What I’d change
- Add a USB extension cable
Final thoughts
We live in a world where bad actors are constantly trying to exploit us through the misuse of our data. We need a gadget that provides great protection while being easy enough for anyone to use and highly portable. The Datashur PRO+C encrypted flash drive from iStorage is the perfect device for the average person. If your data is valuable to you and worth spending a little extra money to protect, then I commend this drive to you. If this drive isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, then take a look at the many other drives that iStorage sells.
Price: $129 to $324
Where to buy: iStorage online store and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by iStorage.
