Privacy | Security_Key | This program "works" but it doesn't deserve a v1.2 label

Security_Key

create a security key out of a USB flash drive.

Version: 1.2

[ Views: 371 ]

This program "works" but it doesn't deserve a v1.2 label

Feedback Type: Review

Contributed by: dr.infinity Saturday, August 18 2007 @ 12:54 AM PDT

Product Platform: MacOSX

Used Product For: Less than a month

Recommend Product: NO

Security Key 1.2 creates a password key out of any mounted USB drive as advertised. Unfortunately it also gives you the option of installing on any mounted drive, including any spare software installation "drives" mounted from installation .dmg files unassociated with the Security Key software. There is no installation instruction file and as far as I could see, no user warnings at logical branch points in the installation process where potential errors will be made real. I got this program to work, but not before I managed to make an error that locked me out of my desktop for the better part of a day. I recovered from my failure to make a working security key during installation on my desktop by re-installing the program on my laptop successfully using the identical password. Now I have one USB flash drive "Security_Key" and 2 secure machines but that is a much better ratio the 0:1 I had before. If you are going to install Security Key, I recommend the following: 1. Insert your USB flash drive and make sure it is mounted before beginning the "Install Security_Key" script. The script will not warn you that no flash drive is present. 2. Unmount from the desktop any . dmg-derived virtual drives created during installations of other software preceding the Security_Key install. You will neither be asked, nor warned, if you really want to or mean to install onto a virtual disk that is going to undergo binary vaporization during restart. This was my error. 3. Choose a password that you will not forget. A random series of digits would be much more secure provided everything is working well and you have cloned the key onto several indestructible backups. My accurate memory of the password I chose for the "Install Security_Key" script allowed me to generate a rescue key on another machine. 4. Do not use the "Firmware Password Utility" that is so conveniently included until after you have generated and tested a functional and reliable USB flash drive security key unless you are truly masochistic. In short, if you don't mind working without instructions while using a powerful and unforgiving script that has no warnings for the first time user, Security_Key 1.2 will create a security key on any mounted drive. If you don't make an error, it will be your USB flash drive.

Overall Rating:

Ease of Use:

Support:

Features:

Quality / Stability:

Price:

1 of 1 users found this helpful.

Rate this Review

Was this Review helpful? Yes | No

Comments

This program "works" but it doesn't deserve a v1.2 label - SpyfromGOD

Many, many thanks for being an early user (tester). I, too, had serious concerns about such a security app and its very real downside. This app is high on my 'to do' list, it's just not #1 yet.

Reply to This

Sunday, August 19 2007 @ 06:16 AM PDT

This program "works" but it doesn't deserve a v1.2 label - raymondlewisjones

Well, I guess I consider myself to be pretty good at the computer, so sometimes I forget to include error messages and such in my apps. You see, since I am the one who is writing the app, I already know what to do and how to do it. So, I don't expect any mistakes to be made. MY mistake.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated! Without it, I would never be able to create the next version of the app. This app really only has about 10-15 lines of code and only took me about 20 minutes to develop, but it is fast-becoming my favorite project. I love the idea of having a "Key" for my computer. Also, the idea of my kids having their own "limited" or "valet" keys that only give them certain permissions.

Of course, let me address the issue presented in the previous comment:
During development, I used a read/write disk image as my "key". I did not want to keep restarting and such, so I used a disk image and then started/stopped the launch daemon as needed using the Terminal.

Also, I note that you should make a backup of your security key. And what better way to do that than to use a read/write disk image during installation, and then, before restarting your computer, clone the disk image to your usb drive or onto a CD or whatever.

Reply to This

Monday, August 20 2007 @ 12:28 PM PDT