(Last edited Feb 29, 2008)

Again, I want to take a moment to thank Sammy McLoughlin for mentioning my blog on his ever so popular Palm Addicts site. It’s such an honor to be repeatedly mentioned by Sammy and I am grateful for all the views I’m getting here.

I hope everyone finds this blog helpful and informative. If you know of someone who is still using a paper organizer or someone who may benefit from learning more about the Palm, please direct them this way. I’d love to know that I had a bit of a hand in converting someone over to a Palm. That would make my day. Thanks as always for reading.

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This is part seven of Putting it all together series. If you haven’t read part one yet, please check it out here

Aside from physically protecting your Palm from accidental bumps, crushing and scratching, you also need to protect it from would-be thieves or from someone who may decide to keep your Palm if you’ve accidentally left it lying around somewhere.

We’re prone to forget things and that includes accidentally leaving our Palm somewhere for a moment and forgetting to get it back. Of course, the person who finds your Palm has the choice to keep it for himself or return it back to you. Depending on his morals, conscience and whether he wants to keep it, it’s all up to him what choice he makes. What are some ways in which we can improve our chances of getting it back?

Device registration service

There are several brands of registration service for Palms, computers, etc. Although they are probably just as good or as bad(?) as a personally made sticker on the Palm unit with your name and number and a claim for reward if returned, they are more professional looking and may be what convinces someone to return it back to you, for a reward from the company on the sticker. At the cost of a few dollars a year, it may be worth it for the peace of mind. It will cost you less than spending the money to buy a brand new device and try to replace what information and data was lost on the original Palm. Depending on what’s on the Palm, it may be worth that extra money.

Here are some of the popular registration services which offer a period of years of registration for your device and supplies stickers and registration online. If someone retrieves your Palm, sees the device, they can contact the company using the toll free number on the sticker and make arrangements to return it to the company, who will return it back to you. The person who returns the Palm will get a monetary reward paid by the company. You don’t have any contact with the person who returned it.

BoomerangIt

Packages start from $9.95 for 1 sticker for 10 years coverage to a variety of other packages covering many kinds of items including bikes, keys, etc. I found out about BoomerangIt because it was included in the box that my Palm came in. I took advantage of the introductory trial registrataion (I think it was 6 months) and then signed up for a 10 year coverage. And I used up my Palm Pays Back reward points to buy additional BoomerangIt stickers and a charging cable.

Stuffbak. Get 10% off with coupon DISCOVERY.

You can purchase a package of two small Stuffbak labels and one keytag or three small Stuffbak labels (from InfosystemsPro) or many other labels or packages available at StuffBak. Labels include lifetime registration and 2 years free returns.

You may also wish to read my review of the Stuffbak labels here.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Stuffbak and of InfosystemsPro.

WantItBak

This looks like a similar registration service offered for those in the UK.

TrackItBack

This service is what I see more of in local stores in Canada and it obviously looks like another similar service.

I’m sure that there are lots more but these are what I think are the popular ones offering a theft recovery program based on reward incentives and offers a certain sense of anonimity for both the good samaritan and the owner of the lost or stolen device.

Security programs

Palm device locking program

Another way to increase your chances of having your Palm device returned to you is to install and have a security program that is encrypted, not easy to crack, or unlock. That way, even if someone has your Palm, they can’t try to open it, unlock it or crack it to access your data to their advantage. Short of wiping the entire Palm out by doing a hard reset, he can’t use it. Of course, the hard reset is an option and can easily be done if the person who retrieved your Palm wants it for himself. But the whole point is to try to persuade him that he will be better off to return it back to you, the rightful owner in hopes of getting a reward.

Palm’s auto lock program is easily crackable

Unforunately, although the Palm device does have a password lock, it is by no means, secure. In fact, it’s been widely known that it’s easily cracked. I’ve read information on how to easily crack the password lock program on the Palm. Check out this Epinions review about how insecure the default Palm password lock program is. You can get pCrack at this link over at PalmBlvd. You can try it yourself and see if it’s that easily crackable.

Also, there’s another program called Password Crack (in German) that also claims to remove the built-in security password lock on the palm. The link at freewarepalm no longer works but I’ve found the developer’s blog which is in German. Here’s the link to his page in English (via Google Translate). Also, according to Jonas over at freewarepalm’s review, he mentions that You have to type in “pwentfernen” as “Sicherheitspasswort”. Then it will work.

Be alarmed. Be very worried. But, there are ways to prevent someone from cracking into your Palm. Also, if you own a Zire 72, do not set the auto lock feature on the Palm because there is a well known bug that drains the battery. Palm is quite aware of the problem but has never released any patches to deal with this bug. If you own a Zire 72 and wonder why your battery is draining unusually quickly, this may be a reason why.

There are many different kinds of security programs, ranging from programs that “lock” the Palm from being accessed until the correct password is entered. Some allow you to select pictures or input strokes that only you know. While others require you to simply input your password and should you get it incorrectly after a few attempts, will wipe out the Palm, thereby protecting your data from being inappropriately accessed by someone other than you. I’d have to say that the one that I think is probably the most secure is PDA Defense Pro. If it’s good enough for the US Defense, I’d think that it’s good enough for me.

PDA Defense

The software has various ways to protect your Palm. First, the initial password screen greets you to initially lock the Palm. If you don’t enter the correct password after a specified number of times, the Palm will go through a hard reset and everything will be wiped out. Also, in addition or as an alternative, the program can also wipe out the Palm if the Palm hasn’t undergone a hotsync after a specified period. The data on the Palm is encrypted via various encryption methods: 128-bit and 512-bit Blowfish or 128-bit, 192-bit and 256-bit AES encryption. There is support for the expansion card encryption as well so that it can’t be accessed either. The program disables data transfer via Hotsync of infrared if the device is locked. The device will remain locked even when a soft reset is performed. More info on PDA Defense can be obtained from their website. As you can see, this is a very secure program and probably the best one. Although it may be pricey, it may be well worth the price if it can prevent someone from trying to access your Palm’s data and persuade someone to return it back to you.

Simulation of configuring PDA Defense

Alternative Flash links: Image Shack

This is a simulation of how to configure and set up PDA Defense by going through the various menus and options and setting up the criterias, enabling special features like the “bomb” which wipes out the Palm after a specfied number of failed attempts to enter a password, or based on the time passed since the last hotsync, etc.

The simulation will play through to the end unless I’ve inserted a pop up note for specific points.

To continue playing the simulation, press the button.
To go back to a previous paused segment, click on the button.
To pause the simulation at any time, press the button.
To scroll forwards or backwards in the simulation, click anywhere on the left (to go back earlier in the simulation), or right (to go forward in the simulation) on the progress bar.

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Picture Password

Another variation on the security password program is Picture Password. Rather than entering text or characters, you simply tap on a specific point of a picture from a choice of various pictures (that only you know) using either your finger, stylus, or fingernail. This makes it much easier and creates less hassle to unlock the Palm. This seems like a good idea, but I’m not sure how secure it is in comparison to PDA Defense. I’d want security foremost and also hassle free to access the screen and the Palm.

Simulation of Picture Password

Alternative Flash links: Image Shack

This is a simulation of what Picture Password looks and how it works. As usual, I’ve provided a quick overview of the main menus and options to show the program’s features.

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Although having something like PDA Defense or Picture Password, which seems like a very secure way to prevent unauthorized access to your important and private data, it doesn’t prevent someone from keeping the Palm device and not returning it back to you. The advantage of having such security programs installed is that it’s very hard for someone even with the knowledge and resources to crack into the program and access your data. But, the main disadvantage is that you have to deal with the hassle of entering a password every time you turn on your Palm, or if the Palm has been left idle for a few minutes. After a few times of entering a password to access the Palm, you may think differently about installing a security program like PDA Defense. And if you’ve set the program to set the “bomb” after 3 failed attempts at entering the password, I’m sure that you’d be sweating when you’re at attempt number 3. That is stress that you probably don’t need or deserve.

At one point, I was trying out PDA Defense but eventually decided that I didn’t need the stress and hassle of entering my password every time I turned it on. I currently don’t have any security programs installed and make a point of always keeping my Palm in my pocket when it’s not in my hand. Yes, if it does get lost, it’s probably gone, although I do have the BoomerangIt sticker on the back and maybe some good samaritan will return it back. But I don’t have my credit card info in it. There are many other security programs available out there, many for free, many not. Do a search in Palmgear, Handango, Freewarepalm and other Palm download sites and you’ll find lots of results. Keep in mind that you want something that is secure and not easily crackable, so do some research and trying them out before deciding on which one to keep.

Keep in mind that this review was originally written back in November 2005. There have been many new security programs released since then among them mSafe, TealLock, RemoteLock, Warden and many others. I have also purchased a Treo 650 since then and have previously used and reviewed two additional security programs: RemoteLock (ex TreoLock) and Warden.

Note. I currently have Warden Security Pro installed since it offers me the ability to customize what gets locked and the criteria so that I don’t have to enter a password every time I turn on the Palm (which was a big annoyance for me) yet provides me with the security if and when I need it.

Best way to protect data: Don’t put it in the Palm

In my view, the best way to prevent anyone from accessing your very important and private data is not to put it in the Palm in the first place. That way, even if someone gets a hold of your Palm, that they only have addresses and phone numbers and not your credit card information, social insurance/security number, etc. Although you may be slightly inconvenienced by not having your personal data stored on the Palm, weigh the possible consequence of going through the nightmare of identity theft (I went through one) versus the convenience of having the data with you.


Habitually keep the Palm on you everywhere

Try to get into the habit of always having the Palm somewhere on you at all times. I used to have a holster like case which attaches to my belt and when my Palm isn’t in my hand, it’s inside the case and on me. Nowadays with a hard case, I put it in my vest pocket (vests are excellent since I can wear them everywhere) and make a habit of keeping it there if it’s not in my hands. I don’t leave it on a desk if I’m not using it. That way, I can be assured that I don’t accidentally leave it on a table or desk somewhere and forget about it. Make it a habit to train yourself to put your Palm in a special place “on you” at all times. Again, like what I’ve said, if we condition our brain to get used to the idea of putting our Palms somewhere on us consistently, it will become a habit and we won’t have to even think about doing it. It then becomes second nature. That way, it’s easily accessible, and if you do make the mistake of leaving it somewhere, you’ll know because it’s not in the pocket where it’s supposed to be.

Use your Owner Info screen as a reward message

In the owner information screen on the Palm, I enter my name and a contact number and add a blurb about giving rewards for returning my Palm. I do the same for my cell phone. The incentive of a reward may be what may entice someone to return something back to you. It doesn’t hurt or cost you anything, until you lose it, and you would hope that they would return it back so the monetary reward should more than justify having it back. But that’s your call.

Register your Palm

Many people don’t bother to register their Palm. There are a few reasons why you should do so. First of all, you provide your info to Palm so that if you need to contact them regarding any problems or issues, they can easily retrieve your information without asking for it then, at a time when you’re frustrated with the device. Second, registering the device may provide you with some kind of peace of mind that Palm has your registration info. So, if your Palm is lost or stolen, you can contact Palm regarding this and maybe (I’m saying maybe because this is wishful thinking), Palm will enter that info in their files and act accordingly should someone with your Palm tries to register it or request help regarding the unit, etc.


Record all your registration info, IDs, somewhere for an emergency

It’s imperative that you should have a backup of your registration numbers, ids somewhere else than the packaging, or just in your Palm. Write down your Palm’s serial number somewhere. Write down your software registration ID numbers and relevant info as to when it’s purchased, the vendor, confirmation numbers, etc. It’s not good enough to just rely on the emails you get from the software vendors or developers. You may change your email address or lose the email. The registration or serial number for a particular software for many Palm software is tied to your personalized HotsyncID. So although you may have a registration ID that works for your HotsyncID, it will not work for someone else with another HotsyncID. This is a way for the software developers to restrict software piracy and only allow the paid and registered customer to use their intellectual property. So, make a note of your HotsyncID as well as your registration number because you’ll need them both.

Print all your relevant info out and store it in a binder somewhere along with all the other info like your receipts, etc or write it down somewhere or have a copy of it somewhere on your computer. Should something happen like you’ve wiped out your Palm accidentally, you can still re-register your paid software. Or claim warranty service, etc. Too many people have neglected to do these extra little steps and end up having to pay again for the software, or go through a lot of hassles to verify their purchase, etc.

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