datAshur – 2.0
The world’s most secure, easy to use and affordable USB flash drive
Capacities: 4/8/16/32GB
Finally, the arrival of an ultra-secure, easy to use and affordable USB Flash Drive.
The iStorage datAshur® is the world’s most secure, easy to use and affordable USB flash drive, employing PIN code access with military grade AES 256-bit hardware encryption. The datAshur incorporates a rechargeable battery allowing the user to enter a 7-15 digit PIN onto the on-board keypad before connecting the drive to the USB port.
What is datAshur?
- The iStorage datAshur is the world’s most secure, easy to use and affordable USB flash drive, employing PIN code access with military grade AES 256-bit hardware encryption. The datAshur incorporates a rechargeable battery allowing the user to enter a 7-15 digit PIN onto the on-board keypad before connecting the drive to the USB port.
- All data transferred to the datAshur is encrypted in real-time with the built in hardware encryption engine and is protected from unauthorised access or if your datAshur is lost or stolen. The datAshur automatically locks when unplugged from the host computer or power to the USB port is turned off.
- The datAshur operates straight out of the box, does not require any software or drivers to be installed and is compatible with PCs, MACs, Linux and embedded systems. The datAshur delivers drag and drop encryption, plug and play simplicity and can be used with any off the shelf backup software.
- The datAshur can be configured with independent User and Admin PINs, making it perfect for corporate and government deployment. If the User forgets their PIN, the drive can be unlocked using the Admin PIN which will then clear the old User PIN and allow the User to set a new PIN. The datAshur also incorporates a drive reset feature which clears both User and Admin PINs, destroys the data, creates a new randomly generated encryption key and allows the drive to be reused. The datAshur is capable of generating an infinite number of randomly generated encryption keys, allowing the user to reset the drive as and when required.
- As the iStorage datAshur is unlocked via the on-board keypad and not via a keyboard, it is not vulnerable to software/hardware based key-loggers or brute force attacks. The datAshur protects your data with a “Brute Force Hack Defence Mechanism”, which deletes the encryption key and destroys all stored data if the incorrect PIN is entered a total of 10 consecutive times.
- The datAshur is an investment that will last for years. Its rugged, extruded aluminium, water proof casing is tamper evident and protects it against physical damage. The internal drive components are also sealed with a tamper proof coating.
How does datAshur work?
Why choose datAshur?
Did you know that millions of flash drives are lost or stolen every year and this figure is rising. Have you ever considered the impact of losing your non-encrypted USB flash drive? Your data would be at the mercy of anyone who stumbles across it.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) now has the power to fine businesses and government bodies up to £500,000 for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act. This includes the loss of an unencrypted USB flash drive that contains client data. The ICO has been very clear in advising businesses and government bodies to encrypt all data that workers access, they also recognise that data which is encrypted and lost or stolen is not vulnerable to compromise.
Loss of confidential data can have a devastating effect on both businesses and consumers. It could lead to a hefty fine, the downfall of a business, embarrassment, job losses and adverse media attention. The iStorage datAshur can protect you against all of this.
What is the difference between software and hardware encryption?
Software encryption:
- Complex passwords can be cracked easily and quickly with a Brute Force Attack
- Simple password cracking software is readily available on the internet, often free of charge
- Software encryption is vulnerable to key loggers – where every key pressed is logged in either a software or hardware key logger
- Software encryption can be corrupted by viruses
- Software encryption is much slower when compared to hardware encryption
- Software encryption needs to be installed on each computer that the external storage device is used on
- Software encryption shares computers resources to encrypt data with other programs on the computer, making it only as safe as your computer.
Hardware encryption:
- The datAshur cannot be brute force attacked
- The datAshur is not vulnerable to keyloggers as the PIN is entered on the unit rather than the keyboard
- The datAshur does not require any software and can be used on any PC, MAC, Linux, Android or Symbian system
- Encryption is performed in real-time thus there is no speed degradation
- No software or drivers are required
| Capacity | 4GB, 8GB, 16GB & 32GB * |
| Speed | Up to 27MB per second read. Up to 24MB per second write. |
| Dimensions (drive with sleeve) | 80mm x 20mm x 10.5mm |
| Dimensions (drive without sleeve) | 78mm x 18mm x 8mm |
| Weight | 25 grams |
| Waterproof | MIL-STD-810F |
| Hardware | USB2 high speed - compatible with USB1 & USB3 |
| Operating System compatibility | Windows, MAC OS, Linux, Android & Symbian |
| Hardware Data Encryption | AES Cipher-Block Chained mode |
| Encryption Keys | 256-bit Hardware |
| Hashing | 256-bit SHA |
We strongly recommend that you carefully read this User Manual, shipped with the device or available for download on our website before contacting us for technical support.There are no 'Back Doors' to our products, we cannot retrieve a forgotten PIN or retrieve any data off the drives unless the PIN is known.
Below are answers for the most frequently asked questions:
HOW DO I USE THE datAshur DRIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME?
The datAshur drive comes with a default PIN CODE which will unlock the device for the first time, allowing the user to create their own unique User and Admin PIN.
Please follow this procedure:
- Press KEY Button
- Enter 1-1-2-2-3-3-4-4
- Press KEY Button
- The GREEN LED light will indicate the device is unlocked
WHAT IS A USER PIN CODE?
The User PIN (Personal Identification Number) can be changed to almost any number that is desired.
To create your New User PIN follow the instructions below:
- The New User PIN must be 7 to 15 digits long.
- The New User PIN cannot contain only repetitive numbers (3-3-3-3-3-3-3)
- The New User PIN cannot contain only consecutive numbers (1-2-3-4-5-6-7),(7-6-5-4-3-2-1)
You can create a word, name, phrase or any other alphanumerical PIN combination by simply pressing the key with the corresponding letters on it.
Examples of these types of PIN CODES are:
For Password1 you would press the following keys:
7(pqrs) 2(abc) 7(pqrs) 7(pqrs) 9(wxyz) 6(mno) 7(pqrs) 3(def) 1
For iStorage you would press:
4(ghi) 7(pqrs) 8(tuv) 6(mno) 7(pqrs) 2(abc) 4(ghi) 3(def)
Using this method, long and easy to remember PIN CODES can be created.
HOW DO I UNLOCK THE datAshur DRIVE IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD?
Your datAshur drive has a built-in rechargeable battery.
Even if the battery is fully discharged you can still continue to use the drive by following the instructions below:
- Connect the datAshur drive to a USB port on any computer
- While connected to the computer, enter the User or Admin PIN to unlock the drive
- While connected to the USB port, the internal battery will automatically charge - this is shown by a flashing BLUE LED.
We recommend you keep the datAshur drive connected for approximately 1 hour to fully charge the battery.
HOW DO I CHANGE THE DEFAULT PIN CODE?
Please follow this procedure:
- Press the Key Button
- Within 10 seconds enter the Current User PIN and press the Key Button again
- Press and hold the Key Button for 3 seconds
- Enter a New User PIN number (The PIN must be 7 - 15 digits long)
- Press the Key Button to store the New User PIN
- Re-enter the New User PIN number
- Press the Key Button to confirm the New User PIN
WHAT IF I FORGET MY PIN CODE ON MY datAshur DRIVE?
If you forget the User and Admin PIN, there is absolutely no way of gaining access to the data stored on the drive, there are no back doors into the drive.
You will need to completely reset the datAshur drive by following the directions in this User Manual. By resetting the drive, all data stored on the datAshur will be deleted.
When the datAshur drive is reset the following occurs:
- A new encryption key is generated
- The User and Admin PIN are deleted
- All the data on the datAshur drive is deleted
- A new User PIN will need to be set
- The datAshur drive will need to be formatted
HOW DO I CREATE AN ADMIN PIN?
The Admin PIN is useful in a corporate environment where an Administrator can provide access to the datAshur drive if the User PIN is forgotten or unavailable.
Please follow this procedure:
- Press the Key Button
- Enter the User PIN within 10 seconds and press the Key Button
- Rapidly press the Key Button twice and hold the Key Button on the second press for 4 seconds
- Enter a new Admin PIN and press the Key Button
NOTE If the LEDS in the above step are “single blinking” then the first key press did not register or was not fast enough. If you continue, you will be changing the User PIN. Re-enter the New Admin PIN and press the Key Button.
WHAT IS BRUTE FORCE OR HACKING ATTEMPT PROTECTION?
10 consecutive incorrect PIN entries will activate the brute force mechanism and will completely reset the drive as follows:
- A new encryption key is generated
- The User and Admin PIN are deleted
- All the data on the datAshur drive is deleted
- A new User PIN will need to be set
- The datAshur drive will need to be formatted
HOW DO I RESET THE datAshur DRIVE?
In case the User PIN is forgotten, or if you would like to delete all data stored on the drive and configure a New User PIN, the RESET process will clear the User and Admin PIN, the encryption key and will destroy all data. This means a New User PIN will have to be defined in order to re-enable the datAshur drive.
Also, since this forces the creation of a new encryption key, the datAshur drive will have to be reformatted.
Please follow this procedure:
- Press and hold the Key Button and the number 2 Button for 3 seconds
- Press 9 - 9 - 9 and press the Key Button
- Press the Key Button again
CREATING A NEW USER PIN AFTER RESETTING THE datAshur DRIVE?
Once the datAshur drive has been reset either with the method from the previous step or from a brute force attack (10 unsuccessful attempts to unlock) a New User PIN will need to be defined.
Please follow this procedure:
- Press and hold the Key Button for 3 seconds
- Within 10 seconds enter the New User PIN
- Press the Key Button to save
- Re-enter the New User PIN number & press the Key Button
- If the New User PIN was accepted, the GREEN LED will be flashing.
The datAshur® drive will be unlocked and be ready to format.
HOW SHOULD I FORMAT MY DRIVE?
The datAshur® drives come formatted to FAT32 file system by default. This will allow you to use the datAshur drive across all platforms (Windows, Apple, Linux) with a file size limitation of up to 4GB.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE USER MODE AND ADMIN MODE?
For an ordinary user we recommend to have just one PIN code, whereas in a corporate environment we strongly suggest creating an Admin PIN and User PIN. When in admin mode you will be able to change the User PIN code.
HOW DO I ACCESS ADMIN MODE?
Please follow this procedure:
- Press the Key Button 2 times
- Within 10 seconds enter the Admin PIN
- Connect the datAshur drive to a USB port within 30 seconds
datAshur - 2.0 Datasheet, datAshur - 2.0 Manual,
| Interface | USB 2.0 |
| Capacity | 4GB, 8GB, 16GB & 32GB * |
| Speed | Up to 27MB per second read. Up to 24MB per second write. |
| Dimensions (drive with sleeve) | 80mm x 20mm x 10.5mm |
| Dimensions (drive without sleeve) | 78mm x 18mm x 8mm |
| Weight | 25 grams |
| Waterproof | MIL-STD-810F | IP57 Certified |
| Hardware | USB2 high speed - compatible with USB1 & USB3 |
| Operating System compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome, Android, Thin Clienst & Embedded Systems |
| Hardware Data Encryption | AES Cipher-Block Chained mode |
| Encryption Keys | 256-bit Hardware |
| Hashing | 256-bit SHA |
| Ordering Information | iStorage Part Number: IS-FL-DA-xx (xx=drive size in GBs) |