So you’re a spy… and you’ve just copied over a top secret
government document onto you flash drive. It’s the document that proves that
the prime minister is actually a lizard and the Queen is Hitler’s
granddaughter. It’s very important that the file doesn’t get into enemy hands –
if it did society as we know it would surely crumble.
But, oh crap! You’ve gone and left your bag (containing the
flash drive) on the tube! You idiot! But it’s okay, because you decided to
store that incriminating document on the DatAshur Secure USB Flashdrive. Phew,
calm down. You can sleep soundly because unlike other flash drives, the
DatAshur (yes, the capital A is intentional) has a built-in keypad, allowing
only the owner to access the precious contents inside, via a passcode.
The version we were sent is the 8GB flash drive, which as
the pictures show is a sleek, good looking piece of tech that is sturdily built
in brushed aluminium. The keys are indeed small, but nothing anyone who has
ever used a qwerty-keyboard smart phone couldn’t master in a few attempts. The
drive comes with a solid ring to attach a keychain and a black metal case which
slips over the whole thing giving it the look of a very tiny tank.
“Mmm..” is what we collectively said, when first opening the
packet (which is just as securely wrapped as the flash drive secures your
stuff). We were a bit disappointed that the drive comes with a separate sleeve
to keep it safe. These caps and covers always end up missing, either falling
off while hanging from your keys or being left in a coffee shop. Still, the
drive itself could probably survive for a good while without the metal cover
and the small keys seem very firmly attached.
Programming the drive with a secret passcode is a bit
tricky, even after reading through the included instructions. It’s all about
the sequence of a flashing light on the drive itself and, quite like the old
iPod Shuffles, means having to know the difference between a flashing green
light and blinking red light. But once the code has been successfully entered
the 8 gig drive worked well with pretty impressive transfer rates.
Once you eject from your comp (be it a Mac or a PC) and 30
seconds pass by, the code is automatically forgotten and you must retype your
passcode once again to gain access to the content. Basically it means that even
if it falls from the USB slot, after half a minute no one will be able to get
at your stuff. This is nice, because the Queen wouldn’t be pleased if we all
knew about her genetic lineage.
All in all, the DatAshur is a well put together product, if
a little expensive for what is basically a fancy 8 gig drive. We don’t like the
separate cover or the finicky code programming, but if you are dead certain you
absolutely need to keep you digital life private from cheeky tea-leaves, this
is the drive for you.
£59 for the 8GB
version.
Check out www.istorage-uk.com/datashur.php