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Features &
Software
This little beast is loaded with highly innovative and unique features.
With that said, there's plenty to demonstrate and I'll do my very best to
cover as much as possible.
However, there's just so many features and just when I thought I had them
all, I discovered many others.
n-Pass Pro
Once you successfully load all software, it will automatically load a
convenient icon on your sys tray. This is the main n-Pass Pro utility that
not only allows quick access to the bundled applications I will show you
later in this review, but is where it will unleash plenty of additional
functionality most will certainly find quite useful.
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**click to enlarge** |
**click to enlarge** |
The
n-Pass database is extremely handy. From here, you can add categories
or "records" on just about anything you can think of...from banking
accounts and credit cards, to software serial numbers and Web/Ftp accounts.
Most importantly, not only can you launch or access any info from here, but
keep in mind that all is stored securely and there is absolutely no way to
gain access to the data without first unlocking it via the biometric
scanner or other additional authentication methods available. It also has some Contact Management features as well.
Contacts can be imported or exported easily to share with others who also
have this drive. Now, the beauty of importing contacts is that it will
load all their info along with their unique public key that is used to allow sharing of
encrypted files, emails and other means of exchanging data. Also, most
of the contact information can be accessed directly from the application.
**click to enlarge**
Another feature I was immediately impressed with is the ability to
conveniently and securely access VPN or RDC connections. As an IT
professional, I manage a number of servers and frequently need to access
them remotely when on the road or even when on vacation. The ability to securely store all of my
Remote Desktop
connections and have such easy access to them is truly a luxury and that is
what this excellent product allows. Simply enter all the login details
and everything is done from you. Just click on one of the saved server
connections and it will instantly connect you, automatically bypassing the
login screens. It works extremely well and happens to be one of the
many features I love best.
**click to enlarge**
Going back to the data management features, the software even gives you the
ability to manage or fully customize your record templates. This
includes not only adding your own, but also adding additional fields to all
existing and can even define the input type for each field. The
best way I can describe it is like a slimmed down version of the excellent eWallet software from Ilium for your desktop and Windows Mobile phone.
Take a look at
this
article I wrote featuring the software and you'll get a better idea
of how it works. Like eWallet, it is capable of providing what I like
to refer to as "live links"
allowing you to launch applications or execute a certain function from
within their software.
**click to enlarge**
Heck, they even go as far as providing a neat little password generator for
the extremely anal and/or paranoid. You have many options and not only are there buttons to copy
them to your clipboard, but you'll find a link to this window in most of the
fields within all the data you have stored. This means you can
conveniently "paste" the generated password in any of the supported fields
with ease.
Now
that I have shown you all the main functions of this utility, let's move on to the
additional features this application does provide. In fact, if you are already impressed with the
level of security, wait till you see some of these optional settings.
The options menu is where you'll find a total of six submenus which I will
detail below...
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**click to enlarge** |
The
first is where you'll manage all recorded fingerprints. You can
register or unregister any as needed. As I mentioned earlier, I
recommend a total of two, but you can register additional prints if you
choose. The next tab is where you'll find the global security
settings. If you thought it wasn't secure enough already, these options
are the icing on the cake in terms of providing ultimate peace of mind.
From here you can not only enable the drive to require both a fingerprint
scan and a password, but also enable and define the number of failed
attempts before prompting for a password. There are also some systems
options allowing you to lock the drive if idle after a user specified time
or even lock the screen itself, requiring re-authentication. But what
is the ultimate setting here? Well for those in a certain line of work
where the unimaginable can happen, you have the option to enable and define
the amount of failed attempts before it will automatically destroy all user
data on the drive. Yes, they do take it to this extreme and I have not
found another product in its class bold enough to even feature such an
option!
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**click to enlarge** |
Moving on, the n-Pass Options menu allows you to enable/disable a number of
general application options in regards to appearance, behavior and security,
some of which can be conveniently accessed from the right-click menu on the
sys tray icon.
The
next tab is where you'll find the Cryptography Settings, allowing you the
ability to define the encryption method of choice. What's really
impressive is that you not only have the option of choosing one of seven
proven algorithms, but also take it a few steps further in regards to how it
should actually handle the encrypted files. Now, these options will
most likely leave many quite puzzled and therefore, are targeted at advanced
users.
There's an option here that you can enable called "My Encrypted Files".
In short, this option will not only provide better control over all files
you choose to encrypt, but will basically function somewhat like a shortcut,
providing a link/icon on your desktop consisting of its two main subfolders
that hold such data.
The
second option you can enable from this menu is entitled "Play It Safe!".
If encrypting your files isn't enough, this option basically provides better
management of the files when actually working with them. This option
takes security to yet another level by restricting access to temporary
decrypted files on any host system you may be working on. Enabling
this option will decrypt files to a temporary directory on a secure area of
the drive itself. I guess the easiest and non-technical way to explain
this feature is by saying that it provides yet another level of security
that somewhat prevents any trace of your files from being accessed from the
host system.
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**click to enlarge** |
**click to enlarge** |
The last two tabs are where you'll find some
other highly useful features, one of which is genuinely unique and the other
which somewhat allows you to take advantage of the biometric sensor in a
completely different way.
The Encrypt EVD menu will allow you to mount
or create an encrypted "virtual" disk defined by the user on either a device
or file-based level that will be part of the encryption process, all of
which will be indentified as such data and execute the encryption method of
choice. The nice thing about this feature is that when such a virtual
disk is mounted, the whole cumbersome encryption and decryption process is
completely handled behind the scenes, eliminating any unnecessary action
from the user. Note though that when creating virtual
drives, the total capacity of the specified files, directories or drives
will be automatically allocated. Creating a new virtual disk is
actually quite easy thanks to its step by step guide consisting of
identifying the source, selecting the encryption method of choice, and
finally defining the volume and formatting option. At any time can
you mount or unmount any virtual disks created. This can be done via
this menu or conveniently available via the right-click menu on your tray
icon. All is all part of a its n-Crypt features, those that are
actually implemented in the OS itself to provide quick access to these
encryption options and allow easy management of valuable data the user may
not want just anyone to see.
Considering this is a biometric flash drive,
the final options tab actually provides you with the option of using this
feature as the primary means of logging into any domain and/or network, eliminating
the need for passwords and providing a higher level of security.
"n-Logon" allows you to define your network's credentials, providing a
highly unique and secure way to logon to your PC.
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