SoftWinter Updates Sentry 2020 Security Application to Version 2.8

[Jonathon Watkins]

<i>"SoftWinter Sentry 2020 for Pocket PC is an enterprise security tool utilizing transparent encryption to protect important information stored on Pocket PC devices. It provides the most comprehensive system of security with flexible options for protection alternatives, and it offers a transparent user interface. The user can choose which files he or she wishes to encrypt, as well as which algorithm is used. Files are transparently encrypted and decrypted on the fly allowing highest level of security without further user interaction."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/box2020ce128.gif" /> <br /><br />The application supports all Windows CE storage media including compact flash, MMC/SD, etc, provides strong encryption via the Twofish-256 &amp; CAST-128 algorithms etc. The encryption key can be stored separately on different media and multiple volumes are supported along with inactivity time-outs. For you types that like typing, there’s a command line interface and the mobile version is compatible with Sentry 2020 for Windows XP/2000/NT. Sentry 2020 for Pocket PC is designed to work on all Windows CE platforms including HPC, Windows CE.NET 4.x, and all Pocket PC variants. It's priced at US$49.95 (this includes lifetime free upgrades) and you can get a free 30 days evaluation copy <a href="http://www.softwinter.com/download.html">here</a>. So how does this stack up to the current encryption software you guys are using at the moment? You are using encryption software, right? ;-)

[ctmagnus]

Nah. I have a password set and use Nice Start (www.trancreative.com) as a gui for that, and anything I figger anyone even might want to get their paws on I have in a password-protected FlexWallet file. But I guess that last one is encrytped to some extent.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Nah. I have a password set and use Nice Start (www.trancreative.com) as a gui for that, and anything I figger anyone even might want to get their paws on I have in a password-protected FlexWallet file. But I guess that last one is encrytped to some extent.

Hmm, Nice Start looks good. I'll have to install it and try it. Agreed that FlexWallet encrypts your passwords etc, but do you have anything on a storage card that needs encrypted?

[ctmagnus]

Nah. I have a password set and use Nice Start (www.trancreative.com) as a gui for that, and anything I figger anyone even might want to get their paws on I have in a password-protected FlexWallet file. But I guess that last one is encrytped to some extent.

Hmm, Nice Start looks good. I'll have to install it and try it. Agreed that FlexWallet encrypts your passwords etc, but do you have anything on a storage card that needs encrypted?

The only stuff on my Sd card is ~500MB of WMAs (~200 tracks/20 albums all told), a few cool pics I pulled off the Internet and my resume. Nothing I'd personally worry about.

[iPaqDude]

I tried Softwinter's encryption tool awhile and back was really impressed, especially with the ability to carry encrypted files on an SD or CF card. Just couldn't swing the price. I am moving my company into using PDAs and will give this another try, though, as I need to ensure that I have an encryption package to recommend before making a proposal to our upper management.

Personally, I use Nice Start and have for some time. I also use FlexWallet to store some personal data in but also use F-Secure to secure company and personal files in - much stronger encryption than FlexWallet. But - the only reason I use F-Secure is that it came on my h2215.

Sentry 2020 really is a class-act application, but for me to shell out that much cash to use it for my own personal use is a little much. Not sure where the break-line would be for me, but I really can't swing $49.95. For the number of copies that I would need at a corporate level, though, I should be able to get it negotiated down to an acceptable amount.

[welovejesus]

Indeed the $49.95 entry price is difficult to swallow. Sentry does offer a discount for those who purchase the PC and PPC Sentry together (15%).
That being said Sentry has provided the best solution for encrypting many different files, which is stored on my SD Card. Since Sentry encrypts at the volume level, one does not have to decypt and reencrypt each time one wants to access a file. Sentry is also extremely stable, does not hamper PPC performance, and does not conflict with any other PPC software.

[Darius Wey]

The $49.95 certainly does seem steep. I think the idea they try to convey is that with lifetime upgrades, that price may be quite acceptable (to some). Anyway, it is a quality application that delivers performance. So to some, the price is certainly justifiable. :)

[lhauser]

Encryption is simply too important. Since I use my work PDA and laptop for a lot of personal stuff, SentryCE and SentryXP see a lot of use on my machines. I sprang my own money for both products, and being able to open the same encrypted volumes on either machine is a great help to me.