Notebooks for iPhone Answers

Will there be a 'password' protection?

Zubingarda, July 28, 2010 11:20

Hi.

My name is Zubin and sorry if this question has already been answered.

I was going through almost ALL notes apps in the store, and to tell you the truth, I found out that NOTEBOOKS is the ONLY app that does EVERYTHING I need. Wonderful.

But my enthusiasm was a bit deflated when I understood that the protection mechanism is a 'passcode' as opposed to a 'password'.

Coming from a technology background, I understand that a 'passcode' is ok-ish and am holding back on the purchase of the same ONLY for that account -- the rest of ALL my requirements are being met pefectly.

Even if I understand from the staff that 'passwords' (as opposed to 4-digit 'passcodes) will be implemented in around next 2-3 months, I'm going ahead with the purchase no issues there. But may I please know if you plan on doing this or focus on adding more functionality to newer and upcoming versions, but keep 'passcode' functionality as opposed to 'password' functionality?

Thanks in advance.

Zubin Garda

Alfons Schmid, July 29, 2010 11:53

Dear Zubin,

I am glad to hear that "password" protection is the only open issue, so let's try to close this one, too.

While it would be easy to simply say "yes, we will implement password protection" to win a new users, I want to go into a little more detail:

The reason we decided for a passcode from the beginning is that Notebooks' protection is actually just an extra to the iPhone's/iPad's protection. Today with iOS4, you can secure your iPhone better than ever, and before someone even gets close to Notebooks, the iPhone's protection needs to mastered first.

Now, I know that many users do not use the iPhone's passcode/word lock, because it is too bothersome at times. This is when Notebooks' protection becomes more important and a "password" provides a higher level of security...

We have "improved protection" on our todo list, and while support for a password will not be part of the upcoming release (which is just a few days away), it should find its way into the next; in any way, it is less than three months away.

I hope this helps make your decision ;-)

Photojhh, August 04, 2010 17:27

When you implement passwords, it would be great if you could use that password to actually encrypt the data, not just control visibility/access to it from the iPhone. (I performed a test with Notebooks protection, and indeed I was able to access all of the "private" information without the passcode, by looking in the iPhone backup files on the computer.) In contrast, I formerly used a Palm application called MemoSafe, which used the popular Blowfish encryption algorithm for protected memos. Thanks.

P.S. I agree with Zubin: Notebooks is way ahead of the other iPhone "notes" apps; thanks for providing it! :-)

Alfons Schmid, August 05, 2010 15:20

Hi photojhh,

thank you for your feedback!

Adding encryption would not be too hard to do, but there are two aspects that have kept us from actually implementing it so far:

1) Export regulations: adding encryption to an iPhone/iPad app entails a considerable amount of administration, because the export/worldwide sale of encrypted software is a delicate thing and adds some serious risks for us...

2) When notes are encrypted, there needs to be a was to encrypt them on the computer, too. "Notebooks for Mac/PC" could handle this, but it is not available yet ;-)

My recommendation at the moment would be to tell iTunes to encrypt the backup, which can be done by setting a checkmark ...

Photojhh, September 01, 2010 21:35

Thanks; that makes sense.