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If you’re looking for help with one of our products, this is the place to be. First, check to see if your question is answered in our “Frequently Asked Questions” area, if not, feel free to email us using the links below.
Secretbook
Frequently Asked Questions
Check here to see if your question has already been answered.
- What encryption does SecretBook use?
SecretBook uses 256-bit AES encryption. The encryption key is derived from the passphrase using PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function).
Data values are encrypted individually and are never decrypted unless needed. Even when you copy a value it is not decrypted until the corresponding paste operation. This means that sensitive data is left unprotected in memory for a minimal amount of time. As soon as a value is not needed the memory is overwritten.
All data values are encrypted, document names and data are also encrypted. Group, Secret and Field names are not encrypted.
Mobile SecretBook uses the exact same encryption code as Mac SecretBook. This means that the encrypted data can be synced to your iPhone without needing to go through a decryption-encryrption step. Mobile SecretBook uses SRP for authentication before syncing and encrypts the message flow. This means that you data is doubly protected while syncing, but it does slow the sync process down.
- I forgot my password, is there anything that I can do?
- No, without the password there is no way to access the data. The encryption key is generated directly from the password, without a correct password the data just looks like random junk.
- I want to move SecretBook to a new computer, what files do I need to move?
SecretBook is easy to move, if you use Apple's Migration Assistant it should all happen automatically.
To manually transfer SecretBook you just need to copy these files (~ means your home folder):
- /Applications/SecretBook.app - the application, you can also download it again if that is easier.
- ~/Library/SecretBook/ - this folder contains your data files by default (you can change it, but you probably have not).
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.i-graph.SecretBookAppAndImporter.plist - this is your preferences.
- ~/Backups/SecretBook/ - default location of backups.
The preferences are optional, if you don't copy it over you will need to re-enter your license and your AutoOpen settings will be reset. And of course you don't need to copy over the backups.
- Why don't you integrate with Safari like other password managers?
Integrating with other applications is unsafe. Safari runs all it's plugins in one address space. That means that all plugins can access the data within other plugins by either looking at the memory (hard) or by calling plugin functions (easy). By using classdump, an Objective-C utility, you can view all the functions available in a plugin, from there it is a simple matter to call them.
SecretBook takes a more cautious approach and protects your passwords better. You can see evidence of this in the way SecretBook is installed, we don't ask for your administrator password, and we don't install anything apart from the actual actual application. This means that you know what is installed and where your passwords are at all times.
By using the floating HUD window, drag and drop, and the OnePaste feature you can safely and easily enter passwords, user names, license keys and anything else that you have in SecretBook into any other application.
Sometimes the form fillers look really good in demos, but in reality the real world is more complicated. Many web sites employ more complex mechanisms to gain entry, especially banking sites, form fillers do not work on many of these systems.
- How do I get the iPhone sync to work?
Syncing is turned off by default on Mac SecretBook. You need to go in to Settings (first item on the toolbar) and enable network sync. If your file does not show up right away on the iPhone you should restart SecretBook.
- When I open SecretBook it doesn't ask me for my password, isn't that insecure?
- It is a bit less secure. What you have done is checked the "Store my password in my Keychain" option. This means that SecretBook automatically logs in each time you open your file. If you did not intend to do this you can undo it by either changing your password and not setting the option, or by going in to KeyChain and deleting the SecretBook etry.
- Your icons are ugly/there are not enough of them, what can I do?
- You can add your own icons to SecretBook Groups and Secrets by dragging an image file or an application over the item and releasing. The item will take the image from the dragged file to be it's icon. You can also grab a favicon from a web site by entering the URL in to a URL field within a secret and pressing the button next to the URL to automatically retrieve the favicon (note this does not work for all sites).
- Why don't you have autofill (like 1Password does)?
- Because it is not secure. All your passwords are available to any internet plugin, which you may or may not like taking a risk with. It's up to you though, many SecretBook users also own applications like 1Password and use both. On the other hand with the HUD window and the one-click copy or drag and drop it's not that much harder to enter passwords with SecretBook. SecretBook also has the advantage of working with all programs, not just ones that have a plug-in. This also means that if you use tools like Apple Remote Desktop or VNC you can still use SecretBook. But the main reason is that it is more secure, you can be assured that your passwords are in one place and are safely protected.
- My iPhone sync is getting errors, what can I do?
- Firstly make sure you have SecretBook 4.0.4 or later, that'll get rid of the biggest issue. If you are still having problems it probably means that you had a network error while syncing, the first thing to try is to turn off the software firewall on your Mac (it's in Settings, under Network). If you have had sync errors on earlier versions of SecretBook (prior to 4.0.4) you may want to reset your database on your iPhone and start over. To do this, press the small 'i' button on the login page and the press the reset button, this will start a new sync process with your Mac allowing you to start over. All the information on your iPhone will be lost if you do this, so make sure you do a normal sync first.
SongBook
Frequently Asked Questions
Check here to see if your question has already been answered.
- SongBook cannot find my Linn device
- SongBook 1.0 does not reliably find all Linn devices, the solution is to upgrade to version 1.0.1 which is currently being approved by Apple. It should be available in the next few days.
- I don't like how SongBook sorts tracks in the Library listings
- SongBook currently displays music tracks and albums in the order that Twonky MediaServer uses. You have some control of this in the Twonky Configuration web pages. We are considering how best to manage this and may change the sorting within SongBook. Please let us know how you would like the sorting to work.
Still need help?
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