Diskashur Pro2: Cross-Platform, Maximum Security Portable Hard Drive

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- J. R. Bookwalter

diskAshur Pro2 (go.macworld.com/dap2, pronounced “disk assure”) is the second generation of what manufacturer iStorage calls “the most secure hard drive ever made.” This is accomplished in a few different ways, most notably with the black, epoxy-coated keypad built into the top of the enclosure that makes the drive look like high-tech gear you’d see in a James Bond movie.

The keypad is used to enter a PIN code between seven and 15 digits long that enables the user to access the disk’s contents. When the hub-powered device is plugged in, three LED lights above the keypad show the current status: Red when locked, green when unlocked, and blue for admin mode. Enter the code, press the Unlock key, and the lights blink as the drive mounts.

Weighing under half a pound, the hardware is handsome and ruggedly built; at only 4.88 inches long, 3.3 inches wide, and 0.79 inches thick, the extra security measures add little bulk to the enclosure. The only downside is the insanely short 3.5-inch USB cable built into the case— while handy, you’ll need an extension to plug directly into desktop computers, although MacBook users will be fine. On the plus side, the cable tucks neatly away inside the right edge when not in use.