1-Pass, Get Some Protection For Your Pocket PC!

[Steven Cedrone]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.omegaone.com/PocketPC/Pass.html' target='_blank'>http://www.omegaone.com/PocketPC/Pass.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/cedrone-20040407-1pass.jpg" /> <br /><br />"Omega One is pleased to announce our latest new application, 1-Pass, a security application for Pocket PCs. Over 90% of Pocket PC users believe they have data on their device that should be protected, yet under 25% of them actually protect the data on the device. 1-Pass has been designed to be a password security application that people will actually use."<br /><br />The list of features is impressive:<br /><br />•Fastest ever password entry using innovative hard key password feature <br />•Shows essential information (Name, Telephone Number and E-mail address)<br />•Access to other key information: What's the time/date? When's my next appointment?<br />•Automatically locks when left unattended <br />•Lock your device on demand <br />•Keylock - just like on your mobile phone <br />•2 types of password entry <br />•Use your own picture in the background <br />•Ideal for corporate deployment <br />•Supports landscape (320x240)<br />•Free trial available <br /><br />"Take advantage of our introductory offer: purchase 1-Pass for just $9.99 at <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;productId=117491"> Handango!</a>" [affiliate]<br /><br />You've seen many password programs discussed here in the past. Has anyone tried this new application? Let us know if 1-Pass receives a passing grade!

[piperpilot]

Looks interesting. I just may take the free trial for a spin.

[SHC]

I thought this was just what I wanted and installed the trial version, this worked reasonably well. So I bought the programme.
There must be a difference between the trial and the full version because the full paid for version has caused several problems on my iPAQ 2210 which the trial didn't. (This has been commented on in another site)
The number of soft resets has increased, you are often greeted with a white screen and a clock and have to soft reset. I like to turn on my device using one of the hard keys and go straight into pocket informant etc, you can't with this even if you deactivate the password.
It looks good and sounds good but in practice I've had too many problems so I've uninstalled it. Thankfully its not too expensive, I may try again on a later version.

[servoisgod]

I've been looking for a way to get our users here to lock their PDAs and I think this is a good tool. So I decided to buy it.

The only problems that I've come across so far is that sometimes the Journal Bar weather icons dissapear, but that doesn't happen a lot I think maybe it's done it twice since they released 1-Pass.

The other problem that may not be a problem but I've been too lazy to look up is that the details said that you can "•Use your own picture in the background ". I haven't found this feature? Not a big deal, that's why I haven't looked for it. :)

The hardware button option is pretty neat, but I personaly don't like thost types of entry, I like being able to type my passwords in.

Here are the PDA's I have tested it on:

iPAQ 4350: Only hardware buttons that it sees are the voice record button and the D-Pad. It doesn't see the Calendar, Contacts, Inbox or iTask buttons. It also doesn't regognize the keyboard, but I wasn't expecting it to. Missing weather icons sometimes.

iPAQ 1945: All Hardware buttons work for password entry. So far no missing icons. The program seems to work best with this PDA.

XDA: The only Hardware buttons that seem to work are the Calendar and Contacts buttons. The Talk and End buttons try and use the phone, and the D-PAD doesn't seem to like it when I push in sometimes? The lock icon does not work sometimes in the programs folder. So far no missing icons.

Well there you go, my little review on the 1-Pass password program. All in all I like it a lot. I will most likley have this in our rollout of PDAs once we start to push them. I think the users will like the fact that they can lock thier PDAs and still see what's coming up.

Thanks

[tartan10]

I downloaded this program (trail version) and like it a lot. However, the issue that I have is that when I turn on my Ipaq 1910, for a moment or two before the password screen loads, the Start Menu button is available. If you tap on it, you have full access to the Start Menu, and all the programs and settings you can access from there, which pretty much means everything. From that point, it seems that the only thing which can't be accessed without getting the password screen is the Today Screen.

Anyone else notice this?

I hope they get the bugs out of this program though, it really is a neat way to protect your PDA while still having instant access to your appointments and weather reports.

[Reidar]

I purchased the program, and really like it. It works well with my Axim X5, Windows Mobile 2003, and I have set it to lock up and require a password whenever I turn it off. The hardware key combination is very quick to enter, so I don't find having to use a password a problem.

The information shown in locked state is good -- name, email and phone, and a selectable window of Journal Bar; I have the weather displayed.

I also looked in vain in the setup file for how to change the background image. However, OmegaOne's web site has instructions on its page:

http://www.omegaone.com/PocketPC/PassInstructions.html#6



The default background image can be swapped to any other image, for example a photo you particularly like. To do this:

Create a BMP file 240x320.
Rename the file pp_background.bmp.
If your image needs to be landscape (320x240), the file should be named pp_backgroundLand.bmp.



This seems a little cumbersome, and I haven't tried it yet.

[ikesler]

I tried the trial and had to hard reset 3 hours later......... not happy

[JoshB]

Looks like a TranCreative NiceStart clone. Too bad I already paid for NiceStart, or I might give this one a try...

[pewter_tankard]

Over 90% of Pocket PC users believe they have data on their device that should be protected, yet under 25% of them actually protect the data on the device.

Which would be fine if this application actually secured the data on the device. It doesn't. It's another password app.

Sorry... not wanting to complain, but password apps only stop people at the front door. It doesn't protect against wired (or wireless) access to the device and it doesn't protect any data stored on memory cards.

As a password app it looks fine. I prefer Visual Key from SFR http://www.viskey.com/viskeyppc/index.html myself.

[T-Will]

For some reason I don't trust these 3rd-party password utilities. What happens if the uninstall process doesn't work correctly? Plus a program that messes with the Pocket PC startup process erks me a bit.

In addition, every time I've tried the built-in Pocket PC password utility, after a couple days my system resources were emptied and I was forced to do a soft reset. Has anyone else noticed this with the built-in password utility?

[iPaqDude]

Looks like a TranCreative NiceStart clone. Too bad I already paid for NiceStart, or I might give this one a try...

Ditto...

[Glisson]

so what? You can only try the softscreen entry if you register the software? I don't want to use the hard key thing at all but I won't buy it if I can't even try out the features I want in the first place.

Am I missing a setting somewhere?

Glisson

[DimensionZero]

Not to sound like an echo, but yeah, looks like NiceStart to me.. It may not have weather on it, but it does everything else...

Prevents syncing up without a password
You can use the buttons for password entry
Automatically locks up after x minutes
You can custom-make your own screens...

I didn't try it out so I can't say for sure.. But at first glace it sounds the same.

Now VisualKey.. THAT is exactly what I was looking for! I couldn't remember what the "process" is called so I didn't know what to search for. I'm gonna give that a spin for sure. Thanks pewter_tankard for posting :D

[Steven Cedrone]

Now VisualKey.. THAT is exactly what I was looking for! I couldn't remember what the "process" is called so I didn't know what to search for. I'm gonna give that a spin for sure. Thanks pewter_tankard for posting :D

You may also want to take a look at PicturePassword (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24827&) as well!

Steve

[chefz]

I agree with Steve, I won a copy of PicturePassword recently over at the PDACorps site, and have been very impressed with it - install/uninstalls easily, lets you create skinned images for it, shows the time and owner name, and has a unique unlocking method. Plus, when you sync the protected pda you have to enter your password into Outlook on your desktop as well (a little annoying but very security-conscious!). It's the first time I had actually ever used any type of passwording on my Toshiba e310 :lol:

Chefz :D

[ctmagnus]

I recently started using NiceStart. I particulary like the abilityto assign characters to buttons, to make password entry a bit easier. Plus the ability to have your today theme as the password screen background.

[darrylb]

Over 90% of Pocket PC users believe they have data on their device that should be protected, yet under 25% of them actually protect the data on the device.

Which would be fine if this application actually secured the data on the device. It doesn't. It's another password app.

Sorry... not wanting to complain, but password apps only stop people at the front door. It doesn't protect against wired (or wireless) access to the device and it doesn't protect any data stored on memory cards.

As a password app it looks fine. I prefer Visual Key from SFR http://www.viskey.com/viskeyppc/index.html myself.

I have two questions for you then -

1) How would you secure the data on the device (an I dont expect an answer like use FlexWallet/ewallet/Whatever here as these only protect some of the data - not all of it)
2) How would you compromise the security of a device protected with this sort of security (including one of the competing products)?

Thanks