(c) 1997 - 1998 by logic tools, Nick Müller, München.
Nick's FortKnox is neither shareware nor freeware. You may only give it to others as demo-version.
More about this under Legal Stuff
| At first glance: |
Nick's FortKnox is a program for handling your passwords, PINs and other secrets.
Nick's FortKnox has a unique intruder detection.
Nick's FortKnox requires OS 2.0 or higher.
| Installation: |
The program can be easily installed like any other Newton-package with your Connection Kit or other
package downloader. Read the documentation for more instructions on how to install packages.
There are two versions of Nick's FortKnox in the archives; an English version named "FK_US.pkg" and a
German version named "FK_DE.pkg". Install the language appropriate for you.
Shortly after installation, there will be a notice that the PIN that you are about to enter for the first time will
be used for further access, so you should think about a PIN in advance. If you have registered your version of
Nick's FortKnox, you should register the package first. The demo-version allows only one-digit PINs! Only users of a
registered version can change their PIN.
If you are a user of Nick's LockDown, you should not use the same PINs for both LockDown and FortKnox! |
| Getting started: |
The first Screen:
Nick's FortKnox requires a user to enter a PIN on each launch. A PIN is a number only you know (at least only
you should
know). Only with this number can you access your data. As mentioned before, the Demo-version allows only one-digit PINs, but if you
have registered, you can enter up to 9 digits. The PIN you enter at the first startup of Nick's FortKnox is
the PIN that is valid for future access. For your security, it is impossible to change the PIN by any other
means than by the FortKnox Preferences, you can only enter the PIN with the digits of the Nick's FortKnox-pad
(buttons 0..9). If there are any typos clear them with the "Clr" button. Use the "Quit" button for leaving. If you have entered the PIN
completely, confirm it with the "OK" button. If you have mistyped the PIN, a message "Invalid PIN" will pop up and Nick's
FortKnox will terminate itself.
i-menu:
The i button allows access to the configuration screen of Nick's FortKnox..
New:
With "New", you will be prompted for the desired action:
Either select "Blank sheet" to start with an empty page or
"Import" to select a note you already have written for your new secret. When you started with an empty page, you can
enter or edit a title or access the secret memo itself.
Please note that you have to enter a title. If you forget
to enter a title, it will be "new secret" by default. Also note, that the
title is not too short (5 or more characters), because it is used for access-control. More about this under "How
it works".
By closing the window, you save the changed information.
If you don't want to save your changes, tap "Abort". The flash-button is a fast way out of FortKnox (without
saving).
If you have Nick's FontDrive installed, you can add a "Font" button to the status bar.
Delete:
With "Delete" you will permanently erase your secrets. Undo is available.
Editing an existing entry:
Simply tap on the text area for the title to start editing.
Arrow up/down:
To move a entry to an other place, select it, and move it up or down by taping on the arrows.
Shrink:
Use this icon to shrink the ForkKnox window, this is great for those times when you need
to get to another Newton application, but do not want to quit FortKnox.
| Configuration: |
Lockout after mistries:
By selecting "off" you deactivate the lock (and so the time lock). With "1" and "2" etc.
the lock gets activated after the set number of mistries. So "2" means that the second
mistry will lead to a lockout. The time lock is activated for the time given under
"Duration," time entered is in hours:minutes. Even if you enter the correct number when
the time-lock is active, you stay locked out. Note that you will see an added
exclamation-mark to the message "Invalid PIN!" indicating that the time lock is active.
During the lock period, any further attempts to access FortKnox will not prolong the time-lock.
After the time-lock period has passed, and after entering the proper PIN, the "Intruder"-counter
will be reset, with "Length Report" you can select how many entries will appear in the
ForkKnox log.
Changing the PIN:
By pressing the "Change PIN" button, two entry lines appear. Please note, that you do have
to enter the new PIN on both lines and that you only use numbers. Only after pressing
"Accept PIN" is the new PIN applied to the data.
Report:
If Nick's FortKnox detects an invalid attempt to access your data, then there will be
a message that alerts you, this message only appears when the valid PIN is entered, and this
message will appear as long as you do not delete the log file, even if the log gets longer
than selected in the length report. This is for your security. You can access the log by
selecting info and then "Report". The report lists all accesses. Valid ones are signed with
a check-mark, invalid ones are marked with "Intruder". By checking the log, you can see whether
the last access was your access. With the "Delete" button you can delete the whole report.
You have to select delete if a intruder was detected.
| How it works: |
Basically, the PIN you enter starts a key generator whose output is used for crypting your data.
This means that even a short PIN will scramble your data as good as a long PIN does. The only
disadvantage with short PINs is, that people start trying with short numbers, so you should
select a longer number. 6 digits is OK. Nick's FortKnox has a unique feature to decide about
the correctness of the entered PIN. It does not store the PIN itself in any place, but it
calculates a checksum of the uncrypted text that is compared to a checksum that was generated
with that crypted text using the (wrong) PIN for decrypting. Only if the two checksums match,
the PIN is considered valid. Even if by chance, you find a PIN that generates a proper checksum
but is not yours, your valid data will not be readable. The checksum is only generated on the
titles to make the slightest reference to the information itself impossible.
Please note: There is always the possibility that someone could install a Trojan horse
application on your Newton, which would then scan while entered your PIN, so Nick's FortKnox
is not 100% safe, but it's by far safer than writing it down in plain text.
If you have forgotten the PIN, there is only one way: Delete in Extras -> Store,
the stored file called "Secret". See your Newton handbook for details.
There is definitely no way to get the PIN back from any information in Nick's FortKnox, so
don't ask me!
| System requirements: |
Nick's FortKnox requires a Newton with OS 2.0 or higher.
Nick's FortKnox was tested on a MP 120 / MP 130 and a MP 2000, and should work fine on a MP
2100 or eMate.
| Legal Stuff: |
Nick's FortKnox is copyright by logic tools, Nick Müller, München.
Please note that the program may only be given to others as a demo-version.
By copying Nick's FortKnox, it becomes a demo-version.
This means that you can beam Nick's FortKnox to your friend, but you may not give the registration-key to
others!
There is no warranty that Nick's FortKnox can not be decoded!
Newton, Apple are registered
trademarks of Apple USA.
| Deinstallation: |
Nick's FortKnox is deleted in two steps.
| Credits: |
As always, credits go to Frank A. Maier for his idea, his comments, and his steady testing.
Thanks to Fidel V. Johansen for his suggestions and his translations (typos are be me, not Fidel!).
Credits for the now disbanded NSG (Newton System Group) at Apple for that visionary tool named Newton.
| What's left: |
Any and all comments are welcome! Do not hesitate to contact me with recommendations
on improving the product or to suggest additional features.
| Registration: |
Registration is very easy!
Registration from Germany:
Please read the German instructions.
Registration from abroad:
If you do have euro-cheques (and only euro-cheques), fill in DM (or DEM) as currency, as amount 20 and send it to the
address below. You can also send bank notes. I accept US-dollar, Australian dollar, Austrian shilling, Swiss francs,
French francs, British pounds and Italian lira (when was your last visit to Europe?) in the equivalent of 20
US$. Don't forget to give your e-mail address or postal address.
If you register, you will get instructions what to do to set Nick's FortKnox to registered mode.
The registration code is valid for future releases of Nick's FortKnox.
As we are slowly approaching the ECU, you might even pay with the new money. The amount is ECU 10.
Proceed as described above.
| Change history: |
V 1.2.2
| Contact information: |
When contacting me, please use e-mail if possible
For enhancements, bugs and job-offers contact:
Nick Müller
logic tools
Fürstenriederstr. 19
GERMANY 80687 München
phone: +49-89-5461051
fax: +49-89-54612555
e-mail: nick@logictools.de
home page: http://www.logictools.de