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The popular USB device has been around now for a good number of years.  Often originally used as a give-away by various companies to promote their products rather than a printed flyer or catalogue, the USB device has appeared in various guise as it acted as a WiFi receiver, television receiver, a dongle type product or even more recently as a storage device as it USB capacity increased considerable and additional functionality was implemented into its feature set.  A recent example of this later category, and forming the subject matter of this next review, is the datAshur PRO +C product.

This particular device, developed by iStorage, combines useful storage capability with both physical and hardware delivered encryption protection.  The datAshur PRO +C is a small device that you could easily overlook when in a hurry.  Measuring 73 x 18 x 8mm, this product can easily fit into a pocket or attached to a key chain via a loop feature when not needed.  Making this device stand out from other standard type USB devices is a front mounted alphanumeric keypad for entering an 8 to 15 digit PIN protection feature.  The use of this protection feature means that data storage on the device will be encrypted up to a military grade standard to keep its content away from unauthorised eyes.

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Using the keypad you can unlock the device and set in motion the encryption process.  To do this you need to follow a keypad process listed in the supplied User Guide and create you own personalised PIN/  As I have small hands, this helped when selecting the alphanumeric keys arranged on the smallish keypad.  I feel than somebody with larger hands and maybe chubby fingers might struggle a little due to the size of the keypad.

Once set up the stored data will be protected from the eyes of others.  Currently the datAshur PRO +C is waiting for validation for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification and will cover the device's content whether you are working on a variety of platforms including Windows, MacOS, Linux and Chrome.  In fact, according to iStorage, this product will work on any device that has a USB port.  In design the datAshur PRO +C features a USB Type C connection and comes with a Type C to Type A adapter allowing the device to be used on a wider range of ports.

Along with its PIN and encryption protection, the datAshur PRO +C device offers some impressive physical forms of protection.  This USB device has been constructed to be rugged, shockproof and crushproof,  It can be dropped from a height of four metres onto a concrete surface without damage and also withstand the pressure from a 2.7 ton vehicles although I have to admit that I did not carry out thus test myself.  While I can not foresee you wanting to use this protect underwater, it can survive being submerged under 1.5m of water for 30 minutes and still perform its tasks.  As part of the standard package you get a protective sleeve for use when the USB device is bouncing around in a pocket with other items. 

My review sample of this product is the 256GB model. This product comes with support for the Superspeed USB 3.2 generation that is capable of delivering a write speed of up to 245MB/s and up to 310MB/s read speed.  Priced at £189, the 256GB product comes with a 3 year warranty and lifetime technical support.

The full range of sizes can be found on the iStorage (UK) website.