By the way, why isnt there a truecrypt application for the N900 (apart from the command-line tool, something with a GUI) I've heard of the easycrypt frontend for maemo, but that I believe is for the N8x0 devices..
It would be easy to make a Queen Becon Widget (QBW) script for mounting/unmounting crypted disks. I haven't searched, maybe there already is one.
The basic idea for such an application would be a frontend like applocker which maintains a list of all the applications on the phone and the basic algorithm for the daemon would be..
If selected application = protected application
trigger password prompt
else, launch application
if entered password is correct, launch the application
else, display "Incorrect password" and terminate the appication before launch.
I'm not a programmer, this may not be this easy or my idea may be incorrect. Please do correct me.
The current AppLocker works hiding the desktop shortcut for the application. I suggested to the developer a different approach: replace the program executable path in the desktop shortcut with one of the AppLocker with some parameter to identify the original program. When selected a window is showed requesting the password....if correct, the program is started.
Don't get why the developed didn't like it. That said, I would implement this at the Hildon-Desktop or Hildon-whatever level - that way you don't have to rewrite pieces of the .desktop files every time you set the program to be short-cut protected or not.
The problem is we already have so many Hildon Desktop mods, some of which are incompatible, that this approach may lead to annoyances for everyone who can't figure out how to pull the upstream changes they want together into their own source to compile, or who can't get the hildon-desktop pre-compiled that they want.
The problem is most Linux-capable developers, I think either want real security (in which case what's proposed just doesn't do enough), or they just don't care about securing their phones, and to someone who's worth their salt at programing, having a password protection system on the shortcut to the app doesn't actually automatically feel like it's really preventing anything.
If I could code it I would. Right now I'm trying to set up a good Virtual Machine Linux image and get Scratchbox installed in it. Then starting to learn C and Python and going from there. But it'll be a while before I can do what's being asked. (Possibly months)
The problem is most Linux-capable developers, I think either want real security (in which case what's proposed just doesn't do enough), or they just don't care about securing their phones, and to someone who's worth their salt at programing, having a password protection system on the shortcut to the app doesn't actually automatically feel like it's really preventing anything.
If I could code it I would. Right now I'm trying to set up a good Virtual Machine Linux image and get Scratchbox installed in it. Then starting to learn C and Python and going from there. But it'll be a while before I can do what's being asked. (Possibly months)
Wow, thanks a lot for showing your support. I can wait for months.
I guess its time I should also start brushing up my knowledge in C\C++ and should start learning python. I wish I could also contribute to the community some day.
This topic about locking/hiding applications and password protecting it has been pretty much discussed and debated to death. I don't think we should waste anymore time in waiting for someone to create such an app. If it was something in high demand then it would have already been implemented by more than 1 person. So I think the overall message is, no one cares enough to want to have such an app or they just can't be bothered with it.
Trust me, I'm all up for such an app but I dont have enough time to start learning a "language" or "programme" to have this implemented. I can only hope someone picks it up and does something about it. Till then I'll just try and do what I can to make sure it doesn't get abused in the wrong hands.
I can't even replace icons to suit to my taste, let alone create a whole new app with GUI and all the shabang !!!
The problem with the sufficient demand implies implementation logic is that it doesn't work in a non-capitalist society. Or rather, it doesn't work in a society where sufficient demand from the wanting group can't be converted into rewards for the capable-of-making-it-happen group.
This is a mainly open source ecosystem. People who make applications make them because they see them as useful or good, or because they want something like that themselves.
Which is why the above notion is flawed: there can be a shitload of demand for something - if the people capable of programming it aren't interested or don't think it's worth doing, they won't. And as I said above, it seems that most devs on here, being familiar enough with Linux, know that the password protected app locking just isn't secure enough to be truly secure.
The one guy that seems to have wanted that kind of against-the-non-persistent-casual-user protection did make an app for it - (s)he just preferred the hide instead of password prompt approach. That doesn't mean that there isn't as many people wishing for password prompt.
In fact, the very fact that it's been "discussed and debated to death" shows there's demand, or people wouldn't keep bring it up.
Have been a frequent offline visitor. Back after a break.
Had to dig this thread up from the grave. I've seen other threads requesting for the same.
I'm not a developer & have almost zero skills in programming.
So I'm bringin this request up again.
i am also requesting some thing like that in my last symbian device it was called "advanced device lock" and believe me it was damm ussful i am searching the net for something like that for my n900 but cudnt find one till date so request any programer here can do that for users like me i will be very very greatfull
