User's Guide for Aiko SecuBox






SecuBox for Pocket PC

Version 1.4



Data encryption software for:








© Aiko Solutions. All rights reserved.
869 High Road, London, N12 8QA, United Kingdom
http://www.aikosolutions.com
info@aikosolutions.com


Contents

User's Guide for Aiko SecuBox

Definitions

Overview

Encryption Algorithms

Platform and System Requirements

Installing and Upgrading

Installing

Uninstalling

Upgrading

Using SecuBox for Pocket PC

Creating a New Storage

Mounting and Unmounting Storages

Mounting Encrypted Storage

Unmounting Encrypted Storage

Command Line Support

Command Line Examples

.lnk Files Examples

Working with Encrypted Storage

Changing Properties and Passwords

Changing Properties

Changing Storage Name

Changing Password

Erasing Files

Deleting Storages

Settings

Enable System Tray Icon

Minimize to Tray on Close

Unmount All on Exit

Unmount All on Sleep

Explore After Mounting

Enable Exit Confirmation

Associate with .asb Files

Automatic Update Check

Autolaunch at Startup

Enable Error Logging

Exiting SecuBox

Backup Practices

Backing Up and Restoring Storage Encryption Key

Restoring Encrypted Storage Using the Backup Copy of the Encryption Key

Encrypted Storage Backup

How to Register

Contacts

Definitions

Definitions. In this User's Guide the following definitions are being used, singular as well as plural.

1.1 PDA: personal digital assistant, a handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking features. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer. It generally includes at least a name and address database, to-do list and note taker. PDAs may be combined with cellphones and other wireless technologies, providing a mobile office for people on the go. PDAs are pen based and use a stylus to tap selections on menus and to enter printed characters. The unit may also include a small on-screen keyboard which is tapped with the pen. Data are synchronized between the PDA and desktop computer via cable or wireless transmission.

1.2 Smartphone: a category of mobile device that provides advanced capabilities beyond a typical mobile phone. Smartphones run complete operating system software that provides a standardized interface and platform for application developers. By the strict definition, smartphones are distinct from PDA-based devices running operating systems such as Palm OS or Windows Mobile for Pocket PCs. While PDA-based devices usually have a touch-screen for pen input, smartphones usually have a standard phone keypad for input. The major smartphone environments are Symbian, Blackberry, Palm and Windows Mobile. Microsoft branded the term "Smartphone" (capital S) within its Windows Mobile platform.
1.3 Software: the software distributed by Aiko Solutions for data protection and Documentation, as well as any future programming fixes, updates and upgrades thereof.
1.4 You: you, the end user of the Software, also used in the form "Your" where applicable.
1.5 Documentation: Aiko Solutions grants you a non-exclusive license to use the Documentation in connection with your use of the Software. You may not distribute the Documentation without providing references to Aiko Solutions company and Aiko Solutions website (http://www.aikosolutions.com/).

All right, title and interest (including but not limited to copyright, patent, trade secret and all other intellectual property and proprietary rights worldwide) in and to the Software (including but not limited to any images, photographs, animations, video, audio, music, and text incorporated into the Software), the accompanying printed materials, and any copies of the Software are owned by Aiko Solutions and its suppliers. You shall not remove, cover or alter any of Aiko Solutions' (or its designated suppliers') copyright, trademark or other proprietary notices placed upon, embedded in or displayed by the Software or on its packaging and related materials.

No Warranties. The Software is being delivered to you "AS IS" and Aiko Solutions makes no warranty as to its use or performance. AIKO SOLUTIONS AND ITS SUPPLIERS DO NOT WARRANT THE PERFORMANCE OR RESULTS YOU MAY OBTAIN BY USING THE SOFTWARE. YOU ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AIKO SOLUTIONS AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY STATUTE, COMMON LAW OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE SOFTWARE, ITS SATISFACTORY QUALITY, AND THE PROVISION OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES.

Limitation of Liability. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL AIKO SOLUTIONS BE LIABLE FOR PERSONAL INJURY, OR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, HOWEVER CAUSED, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) AND EVEN IF AIKO SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR PERSONAL INJURY, OR OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Aiko Solutions can not be held responsible nor render any assistance in the event your forget your password or do not perform timely backups of your encrypted storage.

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Overview

SecuBox is a reliable and user-friendly encryption software for Windows CE and Windows Mobile driven PDAs. The software creates a 'virtual encrypted storage' on the PDA. Data moved to and from the virtual storage is encrypted or decrypted on-the-fly using the 256-bit AES algorithm. Decryption and encryption is totally transparent and requires no action from the user. It transforms the PDA in a highly secure device, requiring minimum effort and user interaction.

If you store customer data, patient records, personnel files on your PDA or carry mp3s, videos, personal photos or any other private data - then using encryption software becomes a must-have if you don't want this data to be compromised. With SecuBox you get peace of mind when traveling with your PDA.

SecuBox offers advanced security algorithms as well as exceptional ease of use and would not slow down your performance in any way. It seamlessly integrates into your daily life requiring no change in the way you work with Pocket PC. Password strength meter will help you create a strong password to ensure that no one will be able to brute-force it and get access to the Pocket PC data.

No back doors - SecuBox does not include back doors or escrow keys. Neither we nor any other entities will be able to get access to the encrypted data - regardless of circumstances.

Encryption Algorithms

SecuBox uses industry standard encryption algorithm Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and supports 256-bit key size encryption. The encryption key itself is built from this password using SHA 512-bit algorithm (industry standard algorithm for strong key generation).

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Platform and System Requirements

SecuBox provides the ultimate encryption security to give mobile users peace of mind when traveling with their PDAs.

Secubox for Pocket PC currently supports the following PDA platforms:

System Requirements:

Installing and Upgrading

Installing

To install, download SecuBox for Pocket PC desktop installation file (secubox.exe) from www.aikosolutions.com/download/, run secubox.exe and follow the instructions. In order to be able to install the software, you must accept the End-User License Agreement. Once the installation is complete you may use SecuBox to create encrypted storages.

You may also download SecuBox from your PDA directly. Go to www.aikosolutions.com/download/ and select secubox.arm.cab, secubox.mips.cab or secubox.sh3.cab depending on your device. Install this file on your device.

Uninstalling

To uninstall SecuBox, go to the Settings window on your Pocket PC (Start->Settings). Then choose System-tab->Remove Programs. Choose Aiko SecuBox program and proceed to Remove. After you uninstall the SecuBox, you will be not able to mount your encrypted storages nor access the encrypted information.

Upgrading

To upgrade to a newer version of SecuBox you only have to install the newer version over the older one. If a software update completely replaces (full install) a previously licensed version of the software, you may not use both versions of the SecuBox at the same time nor may you transfer them separately. You may not, not even in parts, circulate the license keys transmitted to you to any third party. You shall keep secret all license keys communicated to you by Aiko Solutions or Aiko Solutions authorized distributors. You are fully liable for damages resulting from unauthorized circulation or distribution. Aiko Solutions reserves the right to block license keys that have not been paid for by the user in due time or the license keys which were delivered to you after transaction which further resulted in a refund or chargeback. Aiko Solutions reserves the right to block illegally distributed license keys as well as to file the suit against the party distributing the keys without permission from Aiko Solutions.

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Using SecuBox for Pocket PC

Go to Start->Programs and run Aiko
SecuBox.

To start protecting your information, you will first need to create an encrypted “storage file”. You will use this SecuBox storage file to store all your sensitive files. You may store this storage file either on the device itself or on removable storage cards.




Creating a New Storage

In Aiko SecuBox, go to Storage->Create. The "New storage" window will open.



Click Browse, enter the name of the file that will be used as an encrypted storage file and define its location. You may either store it on the device itself or on the storage card.



After you return to the “New storage” window, select the desired storage size in the Storage size field.

You may set up some options for the newly created encrypted storage or do it later:

Tap Next to proceed. Here you can define the storage name (this name will be used when the encrypted storage will be mounted).



You can speed up the storage creation process by using the Quick create option. In this case, the file image will not be filled with random data. Note: the Quick create is automatically enabled when storage size is equal or more than 51 Mb.

After you set up all properties, press Create to create the encrypted storage. The program will then ask you to enter the password for storage encryption. While entering password you will see the strength of your password, depending on the password length, alphabet etc. Password Strength Meter checks your password for complexity and against dictionaries.



The “Creating new storage” window will appear.




Please, wait until SecuBox creates your encrypted storage. After that you will be prompted to format the newly created storage card. This will NOT harm any existing data – only the newly created storage will be formatted.

After you create the storage it is automatically mounted. Now you can browse the storage and move all your sensitive documents or media files to SecuBox storage. Make sure you back up the encryption key and make timely backups of the storage itself to eliminate any possibility of information loss.

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Mounting and Unmounting Storages

To work with encrypted storage, you should first mount it.

Note 1: After the creation of a new encrypted storage, it is mounted automatically.

Note 2: A maximum of 10 encrypted storages can be mounted simultaneously.

Mounting Encrypted Storage

To mount the encrypted storage, go to Storage -> Mount and select the storage you want to mount.



Usually it is a file with the ".asb" file extension (for example, "secubox.asb"). The encryption program will require to enter access password.

After successful password verification, the storage becomes visible and can be used like any other storage card on your mobile device.



After you have mounted your storage you will be able to see it in the list of storage cards. The default name for the encrypted storage card is SecuBox. You may want to Explore the encrypted storage card directly from the menu – this will open the Windows Mobile File Explorer and you will be able to write files to the virtual storage card in the way you do it with any other storage card – only that all information written to this storage is transparently encrypted on-the-fly.



Unmounting Encrypted Storage

To unmount the storage, go to

Mounted ->SecuBox-> Unmount - this will unmount only the storage you selected.

Storage-> Unmount all storages – this will unmount all mounted encrypted storages.




Command Line Support

Using command line you can create special lnk files to customize and automate SecuBox processes - either for automatic and quick storage mounting or for integration with your own applications.

The command line syntax is:

..\secubox [/option][:parameter]

You can specify the following options when working with SecuBox from command line:

/minimize – minimizes already running program or starts program in minimized mode

/mount:<full file path> - instructs already running program to mount specific storage or starts program and mounts specific storage (in both cases a password prompt dialog appears)

/password:<password> - a non-obligatory parameter for the /mount parameter, provides a storage access password to the program automatically (the password prompt dialog will not appear)

/unmount – unmounts all mounted storages – the command is given to the already running program

/unmount:<StorageName> - unmounts particular storage (e.g. /unmount:SecuBox2 - unmounts SecuBox2)

/unload - unmounts all storages and unloads the program from the system.

Command Line Examples

Mount storage:

"\Program Files\Aiko Solutions\SecuBox\SecuBox.exe" /mount:"\My Documents\Business\MyStorage.asb" /password:11111 /minimize


Unmount all storages:

"\Program Files\Aiko Solutions\SecuBox\SecuBox.exe" /unmount

.lnk Files Examples

The .lnk files can be added to Start Menu and using them user will be able to mount/unmount encrypted storage with a single tap.

mount.lnk:

255#"\Program Files\Aiko Solutions\SecuBox\SecuBox.exe" /mount:"\My Documents\Business\MyStorage.asb" /minimize

unmount.lnk:

255#"\Program Files\Aiko Solutions\SecuBox\SecuBox.exe" /unmount

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Working with Encrypted Storage

The encryption is performed on-the-fly as applications access files on the encrypted storage card.

After you mount the encrypted storage card you can explore the contents of it by going to Mounted-> SecuBox-> Explore. This will open the Windows Mobile File Explorer.

Changing Properties and Passwords

Changing Properties

To change the storage properties, go to Storage-> Properties and browse to locate the storage file of the desired encrypted storage.


To enable the desired properties, please, check the checkboxes.

Changing Storage Name

In the next window you will be able to change the encrypted storage name. Type the desired name and tap Change.



Changing Password

To change the storage password, go to Storage-> Properties and browse to locate the storage file of the desired encrypted storage. Hit Change and the Change Password dialog box will be displayed. Enter a new password and confirm it below.

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Erasing Files

After you have copied all your sensitive data to the newly created encrypted storage card, you should take care to permanently delete the files that still reside in the readable non-encrypted form on your Windows PDA or PDA Phone.

When you delete a file in a usual way, the file is in fact not deleted at all. Usually, all that happens is that the file's name is removed from the file systems' index and the space occupied by the file is marked as available for new data. However, as long as no new data is written on those locations, the 'deleted' file can still be recovered.

SecuBox provides a file erasing facility that irretrievably wipes data. The wiping methods used by SecuBox conform to US Department of Defense "DoD5220.22-M" data sanitizing specifications. It overwrites the target data area first by writing a fixed value (in our case, 0x00) once, then its compliment value (in our case, 0xff) once, and finally random values once.

The SecuBox File Erasing will allow you to completely remove sensitive data from your Pocket PC by overwriting it with 3 passes. The Erase Files feature wil permanently delete the files on your mobile device – to ensure that they will not be recovered by file recovery software. To use the feature, click Menu->Storage->Erase File and select the file you want to wipe.

Deleting Storages

To irretrievably delete an encrypted storage, go to Storage->Delete. Select the storage you want to delete and enter your password. SecuBox uses a secure delete method, which means that no information will be ever recovered using special recovery tools – the data space is filled with random data.

Note: Deleting a storage removes it from the list of available storages and deletes the storage file holding all data!

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Settings



Enable System Tray Icon

By default, the system tray icon is enabled. You will find the SecuBox icon in the lower right corner. By selecting it, you are able to:



Minimize to Tray on Close

This is default behavior of the close button of any program in Windows Mobile. However, if you would like to close SecuBox and close it permanently, then you will need to uncheck this checkbox.

You may also use the Settings menu to close the control panel. If you do so, you will still be able to work with the your confidential data.

Unmount All on Exit

With this option enabled all mounted encrypted storage cards will unmounted when you exit SecuBox program.

Unmount All on Sleep

This will unmount all mounted SecuBox volumes once the device goes into Sleep mode. You may wish to extend the time the device goes into “Sleep” by going to Start->Settings> Power->Advanced and defing the time the device should turn of if not used.

Explore After Mounting

This will launch Windows Mobile File Explorer with SecuBox card contents immediately after mount.

Enable Exit Confirmation

With this option enabled you will be able to cancel SecuBox exit should you accidentally close it.

Associate with .asb Files

You can associate SecuBox with .asb extenstion. Set Associate with asb-files flag to allow associations. This allows mounting encrypted storages with tapping on container files directly from Windows Explorer.

Automatic Update Check

You can allow SecuBox to check for updates if Internet connection is available. Set Automatic update check flag to allow the software checking for updates.

Note: no information is being sent to Aiko Solutions or any other party when your software checks for updates.

Autolaunch at Startup

With this feature enabled the SecuBox software will be automatically launched in minimized state after your device is soft reset.

Enable Error Logging

If you experience any unusual behavior, or there are any problems with your installation of SecuBox, please, select the Enable error logging from the Settings menu. Try to work with SecuBox to reproduce the problem. After you reproduce the error, please, go to the root folder of your PDA, and find the following files

Attach these files together with the problem description to the email you send to our support team at support@aikosolutions.com

Exiting SecuBox

Once started, SecuBox normally runs in the background, allowing you to work with your encrypted storages without any additional actions. However, if you want to permanently close the software, you can do it by:

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Backup Practices

Backing Up and Restoring Storage Encryption Key

SecuBox has a feature that allows you to backup the encryption key. By using this option, you ensure that you won't have any problems caused by the inability to decrypt the storage file. Some of the problems that will be avoided are:

This will also enable administrators to recover access to the encrypted storages in case the users forget their passwords. The backup copy allows restoring the storage in the cases of password loss or if the storage file has been accidentally corrupted during the operating system failure.

The backup copy is stored in the encrypted form. To encrypt the backup copy an alternative password, different from storage access password, shall be used. This password will be used for data recovery.


To backup encryption key, go to Storage->Backup encryption key. Open the desired storage file, type the decryption password to get access to the encrypted storage. Then define the backup copy file name. You will then be prompted to enter the password which will be used to encrypt the backup copy of the encryption key. “The process is successfully completed” dialog will appear.

Note 1. The access password for the encryption key backup may consist of alphanumeric symbols, and it is case-sensitive. Enter the password carefully.

Note 2. The default extension of the encryption key backup is .sbk (Storage key file).

Restoring Encrypted Storage Using the Backup Copy of the Encryption Key

SecuBox allows restoring the encryption key of the virtual encrypted disk using a previously created backup copy of the encryption key, thus restoring access to the encrypted disk itself

To restore the encryption key, go to Storage-> Restore encryption key. Select the desired .sbk backup file and type in the password you previously defined. Then select the storage that shall be used for this specific encryption key. Type the new password for this storage. “The process is successfully completed” dialog will appear.

Encrypted Storage Backup

The backup of the encryption key is a good technique to prevent most common data loss causes, however this might be inefficient in the following situations:

Regular data backup procedures will eliminate these risks. Basically, you have to make a copy of your storage file once a week, or once a month (depending on how often you update it), ensuring that it is physically located on a different storage card or on PC hard drive and that the copying was successful.

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How to Register

The unregistered version of SecuBox can be used for 30 days. If you like the application, please register your copy. You can order SecuBox for $39.95.


To get a license for your copy of SecuBox, please, visit www.aikosolutions.com/purchase/ and select the appropriate license scheme. Academic and Research institutions worldwide are eligible for special highly discounted licensing scheme. After you purchase the license, you will then get an email with the registration key. Please, enter it in the License Key Field in the About dialog.

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Contacts

For further information about Aiko Solutions or any of our products, please visit www.aikosolutions.com or contact us at:

For sales: sales@aikosolutions.com

For technical questions: support@aikosolutions.com

For other questions: info@aikosolutions.com

Securing Mobility!

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