NewsFlash: eWallet v4.1 adds powerful features

In my opinion, the "killer app" for the Pocket PC is secure information management. My favorite 3rd party software in this space has always been eWallet from Ilium Software. Just moments ago, they announced version 4.1, which includes one of the most important features I've ever seen in a secure information manager.

Introducing PassBuilder

eWallet v4.1 now features a secure password generation application called PassBuilder. In a nutshell, PassBuilder is an easy way to instantly create passwords up to 99 characters long. Best of all, you're creating the password inside of the eWallet application, so a single touch copies the password right into your eWallet and stores it for safekeeping. This single-screen application (see Figure 1, below), allows you to set the length of the password you'd like to create, select which characters (lowercase, uppercase, numbers and symbols) you'd like it to use and select a "password type" which includes memory aid options (see next paragraph for more information on this). PassBuilder remembers your preferences, so the next time you launch it, the character length, acceptable characters choices and password type will be the same.

Figure 1: PassBuilder is an application built-in to eWallet to create random, secure passwords for any need.

A brilliant facet of the software is the "Memory Aid" feature, which allows you to create passwords that you can remember by repeating a sentence aloud as you type it in. For example, the cryptic password JsXmgB0)# has a nmemonic sentence of "John secularized X-men's machetes," granted Brian. 0)# to help you recall it. It is interesting to note that PassBuilder flawlessly handles capitolization in these memory aids by assigning them to proper nouns in the sentence. The Pocket PC version of PassBuild software can create nmemonic sentences, (like the example above) and pronouncable passwords (only using characters that can be spoken, like ak-0-eet).

Create a password in 4 stylus taps!

The PassBuilder application is launched from within eWallet. While creating a new card, you can tap-and-hold on the password field (see Figure 2, below) and select Build Password. If you have used the program before and the preferences are set correctly for your needs, simply tap Generate to create your unique password. A final tap on the Copy + Close button will paste the new password into eWallet and close the PassBuilder application. Creating complex security keys has never been so easy!

Figure 2: On the Pocket PC, the PassBuilder application is launched when you tap-and-hold on a field and select Build Password... from the pop-up menu.

Although the tap-and-hold menu is the standard method for accessing features on the Pocket PC, I found myself wishing there was a "Build Password" button inside eWallet. The icon could appear on the Command Bar (at the bottom of the screen, where you select your character input method) or even as a "build" hyperlink next to the password title. PassBuilder is important enough that it deserves it's own place in the eWallet application. In addition, it would be great if Iliumsoft added a "Memory Aid" field to their cards, so that you can review the nmemonic sentence or pronouncable version of the password later to help you remember your passwords.

Desktop companion

On the desktop, the PassBuilder application can be launched by itself from the Windows Start menu (see figure 3, below). This is extremely valuable for IT personnel who wish to create random passwords for other users and simply copy and paste them into a user set-up program. Also unique to the desktop version of PassBuilder is the ability to create passwords from the dictionary (where, for example, the word repay is used to create the password REpav6).

Figure 3: The desktop version allows you to launch the PassBuild application from the Windows Start menu.

In my opinion, the only features missing from the desktop version are "reverse engineering" features to create nmemonic sentences from existing passwords and a master key feature. I loved the nmemonic sentence feature so much, that I wish I could have done it with passwords I've already created, instead of having to create new ones. Also, the ability to make a master key and generate passwords would be quite helpful. For example I could type in "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" and it would create 10 passwords for me. This way, I could assign these 10 passwords to my most important accounts (banking, brokerage, etc.) and in the unlikely event that a catestrophic disaster ever occurred where I lost all of my personal data on my Pocket PC and desktop computer, I could reload the eWallet application and recreate my passwords by entering the original key sentence.

eWallet (which includes PassBuilder) is available as a stand-alone application for your handheld for $19.95, or bundled with the desktop version (which I recommend) for $29.95 from Ilium Software.

If you're a current user of eWallet, you can continue to the next page to see what other features have been added to v4.1. If you're new to Secure Information Managers, and you'd like to find out more about eWallet, a previous article of mine includes a brief summary on what a Secure Information Manager application can do for you.

Additional new features in version 4.1

Although the most impressive feature is the PassBuilder application, eWallet v4.1 includes a number of new features that will please avid users of the software and those who are considering giving SIM software a try:

• Upgraded encryption - eWallet 4.1 now uses 256-bit RC4 key encryption (previously, eWallet featured 128-bit encryption) to keep your sensitive information secure.
• Improved synchronization - Iliumsoft has reworked the launching, canceling, and changing features of eWallet's Synchronization Wizard. The results are improvements in usabilty and fewer synchronization errors.
• Windows Mobile 5.0 - eWallet now includes true support for Windows Mobile 5.0 devices.
• Palm Treo - eWallet fully supports the Palm Treo line of handhelds including the new Windows Mobile model (the Treo 700w).
• Support for all Windows Mobile screen shapes - eWallet now supports square and high resolution screens.

And if you haven't upgraded in a while, version 4.0 included some additional must-have features:

• Categories within categories - Organizing your cards is even easier with the ability to create subsections underneath the main categories. Now, you can have a "Credit cards" subcategory underneath your "Items in my wallet" category.
• SyncPro card synchronization - Now you can keep your information up-to-date and save a back-up copy of your secure information, using eWallet's new SyncPro techology. Smartphone users need this feature to copy the eWallet data to their desktop while Pocket PC users may prefer this method to ActiveSync in order to quickly synchronize individual cards rather than the whole file.
• Password Hint - If you are concerned about forgetting your password, you can save a 31-character hint to help remind you. For example entering "my birthplace" or "mother's maiden name" should jog your memory but thwart theives.
• Unlimited Categories - Although previous versions of eWallet only allowed 16 categories, version 4.x allows you to create an unlimitied amount of groups to organize all of your information.