How to make secure PDA

June 22, 2007 11:00 AM

How can I make my PDA secure?

I use Steganos Security Suite / SAFE for my XP laptop... I put all my important stuff including OUTLOOK and Quicken files in the Secure Drive. I am fairly confident that even if some one steal my laptop, they can't get to my data.

I just got a new HP Ipaq RX 5915 with Windows Mobile 5. I am about to sync my mail and etc... but.. now that I think about it.. what happens if some one steals my pda? I do have PIN code capability.. but it just seems weak. How can I make sure no one except me can access my pda sync-ed data? Is there steganos type security feature i can buy? How can I secure my sync-ed data?

posted by curiousleo to computers & internet (9 comments total)

P.S. I would like to find one that is most popular or considered best in the business...
posted by curiousleo at 11:36 AM on June 22, 2007

what seems weak in pda pin codes? is your xp laptop password just as weak?
posted by rhizome at 11:47 AM on June 22, 2007

My thought is that its not the password itself...
I've heard that Windows XP's password can be easily cracked .... (I have seen many software that does this..)

Also.. I will feel much better knowing that I would have secondary password protection even after my pda is compromised.

Currently my laptop setup is that ones I put my password for XP... I would still need to put another password to open up the folder that has my pst and quicken files...

I am very new to Windows Mobile 5... and I don't even know where the sync-ed files are stored.......
posted by curiousleo at 11:55 AM on June 22, 2007

Also.. chances are I will probably need to put some important files including sync-ed outlook files in the SD card... in which case.. I strongly want to secure the card or folders in it...
posted by curiousleo at 11:56 AM on June 22, 2007

A little Googling, and I got PocketSecure.

Strong passwords with 128 Bit AES. Looks like your fix?

Also, a three day trial, so no risk.
posted by SlyBevel at 12:48 PM on June 22, 2007

As for the SD card, your device can't secure it. You'll need to do something independant of WM5, like TrueCrypt.
posted by SlyBevel at 12:49 PM on June 22, 2007

HP iPaq's brand pocket pc's come with software the allows for encryption of the SD card or individual folders on the internal memory, and also allows for encryption of the built in databases (email, contacts, notes, tasks) IFF you're using the default handlers for each of those items.

You might check to see if the same software is available for purchase separately - I'm pretty sure HP just licenses it.
posted by tiamat at 1:14 PM on June 22, 2007

I have a Dell Axim with WM5 and it will hard reset after three incorrect pin entries. So any data in the device's ROM is fairly secure. I'm not sure if that's a function of WM5 or the Axim.
posted by mealy-mouthed at 7:38 AM on June 23, 2007

Look at Sentry CE for encrypting your removable media. Much like TrueCrypt, it encrypts the whole volume, but it has both WM and PC software so you can use the removable media on mobile and desktop platforms. It's been a few years since I used a WM device, but it was extremely handy when I did.
posted by lhauser at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2007