Computer Times
Editors' Choice Security
Power LogOn Password Manager 4.
Reviewed by Terry Kibiloski
Power LogOn Password Manager 4.0 (Retail $93-$137), from Access Smart, protects your valuable data through safe password management using a smartcard plugged into an external input device. This keeps your passwords out of the hands of identity thieves, while providing you more secure passwords. Since many of us get very tired of remembering and keying in passwords for so many different Web sites, files and networks, we tend to use the same password for multiple accounts or, worse yet, write them down in a place that others might easily find. With Power LogOn Password Manager, you can access all of your important data with secure passwords more quickly and effortlessly than ever before. You can assign, change and save up to 100 complex passwords -- stored on one smartcard -- and with two mouse clicks, can instantly logon to any account with no further action required. With Power LogOn, you will never need to type or remember another password again.
Power LogOn is capable of generating and storing random, 20 character passwords derived from the 94 available keyboard characters, making them virtually impossible to crack. You can also choose to assign your own passwords, and can store them safely on the smartcard where others cannot access them. All smartcard data can be backed up on a CD, or other media, to be stored in a safe or at some other secure location. In the event a card is ever lost or stolen, a replacement card can be issued and the data restored.
Unlike a flash memory card, hard disk drive or an external disk drive, the computer does not see the Power LogOn smartcard as a storage device, so hackers will not even know the card is present and are unable to break in. The data on the smartcard is encrypted and requires the Power LogOn software to retrieve and decrypt the data. Processing and calculations are done on the smartcard - independent of the computer - so viruses, worms and Trojan Horses are not able to attack and steal passwords.
Power LogOn can also encrypt and store credit card information on your smartcard, so that you can safely and conveniently shop online without anyone being able to discover your private information. It also protects from spyware, pharming and phishing e-mails where Internet thieves try to gain access to your account through fraudulent Web sites. In these instances, Power LogOn recognizes that the Web page is not authentic and will not transmit your logon information.
With Power LogOn, you can safely bring work home, or access sensitive company documents, without worrying about the risk of exposing confidential information to third parties. You can have a complex logon password for the initial startup of the Windows Operating System, denying those without the user code permission to use the computer. In the event that a computer is stolen or hacked, thieves will not be able to logon and gain unauthorized access.
This is a great password manager for individuals, small offices, and home users who are frustrated with too many passwords to remember and want a convenient way to manage all computer and Web accounts without ever having to type a password again. The best thing about this product is there are no annual renewal fees. Plus, it is open to unlimited installation of the software, which allows you to have the software on multiple computers, at home and at the office, to provide great password management and protection on all of the computers that you use.
Another powerful feature is its ability to generate passwords that are virtually impossible to crack. Power LogOn Password Manager can generate secure passwords like 1j54yKFRn4$(*?hgwq{4" that you don't have to remember or type. Each time you power up your computer and insert your Power LogOn smartcard into the Power LogOn reader, with one simple PIN entry, Power LogOn will securely log you into your password-protected computer or network. To access the Internet, a double mouse click on any one of your possible 100 accounts stored on the card will launch Internet Explorer, go to the site's logon page, insert your user name and password, and send the submit command. You simply sit back and watch yourself get securely and automatically logged into your account. Power LogOn also works with password protected files from Word, Excel, Lotus Notes, QuickBooks, Quicken, and hundreds more.
Power LogOn Password Manager is easy to set up and is intuitive to use. It works on both laptop and desktop computers. There are also versions for large corporations. Some of the key features of Power LogOn are:
Double, two-factor authentication. Something you have (card) and something you know (PIN), plus something the computer has (card) and something the computer knows (account passwords).
Strong password creation. A random password generator that lets you determine the password length and character types (numeric, lower case, upper case and special characters).
Secure card data backup. Automatic, triple DES encrypted card back-up file that can be stored on media of your choice.
Conveniently portable. Have availability to all your passwords and accounts at work and at home without ever storing or leaving any account access on the computer for others to use.
Multi-user computer profiles. Every computer user can have his or her own logon passwords so that others cannot get into their accounts, nor have their privileges.
Completely confidential. If the authorization PIN is entered wrong three times the card is locked. The card administrator (which can be the card user) has three attempts to unlock the card before the card data is permanently destroyed.
Service. Overnight delivery of replacement cards is available.
System Requirements:
Operating System: Windows® 2000, XP Professional/Home Edition or higher.
Personal Computer: Pentium® 233 MHz or higher, or compatible; CD-ROM drive; VGA or higher graphics; 128MB of RAM; USB or PCMCIA available port; and 70MB available hard disk space.
Internet Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, or Netscape® Navigator 7.0 or higher
In the Power LogOn Password Manager box you will find a desktop card reader that is hardwired to a USB cable (comes with a sticky-back mounting square for affixing the reader to the side of a monitor, and a detachable foot with a rubber bottom to place it on a desk), an installation CD, "getting-started" booklet, a smartcard programmed with a default PIN and personal unlock keys, and a set of Avery card labels. Two smart cards programmed with default PIN and personal unlock keys come in a sealed envelope. There are multiple reader types available, as shown below.
When you install Power LogOn Password Manager 4.0 on your computer, you will also get SafeHouse, and DesignPro 5.0 Limited Edition. SafeHouse, by PC Dynamics, provides transparent "on-the-fly" encryption for your notebook or desktop personal computer. When you use SafeHouse, you can allocate portions of your existing hard drive to be reserved for encrypted data. SafeHouse encrypted volumes appear on your PC as another Windows drive letter. You can do anything with a SafeHouse virtual drive that you can do with a normal hard drive; only with SafeHouse, the encrypted volumes require password authentication before the files become accessible. Power LogOn stores the secure passwords for convenient access to your data.
DesignPro 5.0 is a software program used to create and print customized, professional looking graphics onto Avery products like the included Avery 2992 Photo ID labels. The template for the 2992 labels is included in the Power LogOn directory. With DesignPro you can personalize your Power LogOn card in minutes.
Power LogOn Password Manager 4.0 has been tested to comply with FCC Standards for office or home use. It is not intended for use in machinery, medical or industrial applications that are essential to human life or health. Power LogOn does not work with AOL if you are using it for your browser. You will need to set up your computer to default to Internet Explorer, Netscape or Firefox as your default browser.
Detailed pricing on Power LogOn Password Manager Starter Kits is shown below:
Power LogOn Password Manager with USB Card Reader
Code: PLK32-1
Price: $93.00
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Power LogOn Password Manager with PCMCIA Card Reader
Code: PLK32-2
Price: $137.00
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Power LogOn Password Manager without Card Reader
Code: PLK32-3
Price: $53.00
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Power LogOn Password Manager with ExpressCard Reader
Code: PLK32-4
Price: $137.00
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Power LogOn Password Manager with USB Slim Reader
Code: PLK32-5
Price: $89.00
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Power LogOn Password Manager with USB Token and SIM card
Code: PLK32-6
Price: $95.00
For further information, go to www.access-smart.com.