Password Protection for Launching Programs?

[Calvados]

Hey folks, just wondering if any of you know of a software that will allow me to password protect certain programs on my Palm before launching them. In other words, I tap on ThinkDb to launch it and I am promted for a password. Or I launch Ultrasoft Money & I am prompted for a password. I do not want to have to set individual password in each program.

I know some of these programs have that built in, but some do not and I would like to be able to protect just those programs.

Thanks in advance for your advice and help,
Calvados

[DrMud]

I am unaware of any applications or hack that would add this feature. I use PocketQuicken and it has this built in as does HandBase.
I use OnlyMe as a lock on my entire Palm. I have used this app for more than two years. I am very satisified.
If you are concerned about security on the Palm read the transcript of the presentation that Alex Robinson (developer of OnlyMe) gave at PalmSource 2000.
DrMud

Palm Security (http://www.tranzoa.com/onlyme/palmsource2000talk.htm)

[Calvados]

DrMud,

Thanks for the information. I will check out the "onlyme" and see how I feel about that. I have always been a little afraid of programs that lock the whole Palm, but then that shouldn't bother me since I always have my backups. Thanks agian for taking the time to answer.

Have a nice day,
Calvados

[DrMud]

It is hard for a major screw up to occur with OnlyMe. My grandson put in too many wrong attempts and that triggered a waiting period. I had to wait but got in without a problem.
Doc

[jacques]

I have downloaded the trial version of OnlyMe, and I find, there is another added feature, which I find most useful.

With the system security it is almost impossible to activate your Palm in darkness, because the graffitti area in unlit, and You have to feel your way around trying graffitti input or activation of the keyboards, which are never, where you believe them to be.

With OnlyMe the keyboard in right in the middle of the lit screen, just where You need it.

I think, this feature alone in worth the 10$, not to mention the improved security.

[Mavrick]

This allows you to not only password protect specific apps but also to encrypt their data. Try it!

Hope this helps!

Mav

;)

[jacques]

After using this application for a couple of weeks, my M500 suddenly went mad. Whenever i turned it on, the line showing inputs already contained a lot of "dots" and any input on a button or a key produced between 3 and seven dots.
I had to hard reset the machine and then restore it from the backup card. This kept it running for about two hours, then it went mad again, and I had to reset and reinstall it once more. After this experience I quickly removed OnlyMe from the machine, while I had acces to it.
The machine has a faulty touch screen and is currently being replaced by Palm; but before I reinstall OnlyMe on the next machine, I would like to know if anybody has had a similar experience with a normally working machine, because then I will stop using this otherwise good application.
I use no hacks and the only major non-Palm application I use is Datebk5. Can this be incompatible with OnlyMe?
Hoping for some advise -

[DrMud]

Jacques,
Sorry to hear of your Palm's digitizer problem. Given the complex nature of the digitizer and the recognition software I am always amazed that there are as few digitizer problems as there are. Sadly the Palm m500 seems to be following in the footsteps of its predecessor the Palm Vx. They both have demonstrated potentially serious digitizer problems.

As to possible conflicts with other apps and Only Me I can say that in my 3 years of using Only Me I have never had a conflict with any of the apps I use. My Palm 515 has 58 apps running and a handful that are compressed. I do use two hacks and I do use DateBk 5. I have apps in Flash and 32 apps running from the card using MegaLauncher and PiDirect. It would be hard to offer a more complex and there by potentially disaster prone environment than that on my 515.

The one and only problem I have ever had with Only Me was self initiated when I decided to put Only Me in Flash ROM. Very stupid me!
Only Me has been totally stable and reliable for me.
DrMud

[Alex Robinson]

Yep, the problems jacques had with the bad digitizer seem very clear.

The digitizer simply returned pen-down movements at random places on the screen. OnlyMe thought that a person was making a gesture, sweeping the pen through the "keys". Since OnlyMe can take a password of unlimited length, the digitizer merrily kept trying to enter a really, really long password.

It failed to enter the correct password. OnlyMe foiled the evil, mad digitizer's relentless quest to steal Jacques' secrets! :)


I'll stay off the side subjects of per-app locking and encryption as they are probably mentioned in the OnlyMe docs:

http://www.tranzoa.com/onlyme/onlyme.htm

[DrMud]

Thanks Alex!
The combination of software security expert and comedian may be just what we need on this planet.
Doc
PS: Does that make you a "secure comedian" as opposed to Sienfeld as an insecure comedian?

[Toysoft]

You should evaluate all the security products before you purchase. I've found many flaws with PDA Defense and can be easy hacked.

Here are some of the security products that usings encryptions and password protection.

1. SecureData www.kastenchase.com
2. PDASecure www.digitaltrust.com
3. PDADefense
4. MoviaEncrypt www.certicom.com

SecureData is the first product that does true record encryption and can handle alarms while the records are encrypted.

regards,


Originally posted by Mavrick
This allows you to not only password protect specific apps but also to encrypt their data. Try it!

Hope this helps!

Mav

;)

[Alex Robinson]

Ah, I should have included this URL:

http://www.tranzoa.com/html/compete.htm

But, I just gotta take a big chunk of time and run a sanity check on some of the programs listed there! :)