Keep Your Handheld and Data Secure with PiLock

Posted By: Ed Monday, August 19, 2002 10:45:01 AM

Portable Innovation Technology has announced the PiLock, a hardcase that not only physically protects a Palm m500 series handheld, it prevents unwanted access to the data inside. It comes with an application that locks the handheld to prevent its use by anyone who doesn't have the key. And there really is a physical key. The handheld is unlocked by waving what looks like a small handheld over the case. PiLock will be available at the end of August for $70.

By using the RFID key, the handheld can be unlocked much more quickly than by manually entering a password. The key can be kept on the user's keychain. PiLock also ships with a keycard about the size of a credit card that can be stored in the wallet and will also unlock the handheld. As a last resort, a password can be typed into the handheld to unlock it if neither key nor keycard are available.

The flip case is leather and opens to the left. It offers slots for business cards and to store SD or MMC cards.

The handheld can't be put in a cradle while in the case but PiLock comes with a USB cable that allows the handheld to both HotSync and recharge.

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Pretty cool idea

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 12:37:20 PM #
I like the idea of a data lock, either through RFID or bluetooth. The downside of this device is that it is a specialized case and that with RFID yoyu have to get pretty close to the device to unlock it. But for a first gen idea, I think it's great.


RE: Pretty cool idea
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 12:46:44 PM #
I agree. I'd even go so far as suggest this should be built into handhelds. Enterprise customers are worried about security. Handhelds that can't be used by anyone but their owners should appeal to them.

I hope they wrote the software so that simply doing a soft reset won't disable it. Even hard reset protection would be good. Fewer hardhelds would be stolen if more of them were useless to anyone but their owner.

RE: Pretty cool idea
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 5:29:18 PM #
Maybe it should encrypt contents of the SD until it is unlocked. Also, what's the point to protecting after a hard reset? The most important thing is the information in the handheld. Corporations can easily replace a stolen handheld but the information stored is priceless.
RE: Pretty cool idea
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 5:58:02 PM #
This is only gonna work with the M5xx series? What are us other (Clie, Prism...etc.) gonna use, because the security that came with my Prism is useless
I think...
CanadianToastBoy @ 8/19/2002 10:11:31 PM #
I think ill just have to go out and buy a m515 so I can use this. It's pritty cool.

RE: Pretty cool idea
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/20/2002 4:23:19 AM #
> you have to get pretty close to the device to unlock it.

You will also have to get pretty close to it to use the Palm, so I don't think this is a great hardship.

RE: Pretty cool idea
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/22/2002 10:16:09 AM #
I feel ashamed that it took sooooo long for someone to point out that you have to be pretty close to the handheld to USE it too. The fabled PIC flamers must be on vacation all at the same time! ;)
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