You know the Situation: you're on the road with your PowerBook and have sensitive data on it. If you'll give your PowerBook away you don't know if somebody got your data…
What can you do?
• install something like "Fileguard". This is very usefull (and much or less expensive), because you can give different folders different accesscodes. But, if someone docks your Powerbook via SCSI-cable Fileguard is NOT active. If your data isn't crypted, everything could be copied and used!
• given the "docking" situation, it helps if the other one couldn't see your data in the Macintosh Finder? Susi just hides any file or folder with a given label. You apply labels to files and folders within the Finder. To protect your data from being seen, unhiding is password protected.
Using Susi
Copy Susi onto your PowerBook (or any other Macintosh). BE SURE YOU DIDN'T APPLY ANY LABEL TO SUSI!!
• TIP: copy Susi into the "Apple Menu" folder and put an Alias into the "Startup" folder…
Choosing "Hide" or "Show" all mounted volumes will be used. If you just want to process one volume, drag the volume icon onto Susis icon within the Finder!
Changes will only take effekt if a window within the finder is closed and opened again. If some files to hide are on the desktop you must remount the volume again (e.g. restart your Mac).
If you're using Susi the first time, just type the "Backspace" key to enable to buttons. Then choose "Options" to specify a new password.
• TIP: The feature to label files in a labeled folder is extremly usefull. Created files have no label. Just build one (or more) folders for your secret files and label it - all stored files in this folder will be also hidden.
More Words From The "Wise One"
Because I'm the author of Susi, some more TIPs using Susi and a PowerBook in general:
• Buy "At Ease" (1.0 !! Needs less RAM). Files are much comfortable to handle.
• Label and Hide all tools which are able to unhide a file or folder (like ResEdit, Norton Utilities…).
• NEVER give Susi a label! Once Susi is hidden, there is no chance to unhide it (see above) without "external" applications (from a disk or network)!
• Use only ONE copy of Susi on a Macintosh. Susi stores it options and password into itself, so you would get confused by different passwords…
• If someone docks your PowerBook, look out if he uses something to unhide your files. He also may use his own Susi and make seven tries to show all your files (labelnumbers 1-7). If another Susi is used, your password isn't needed! In general its a good idea to watch what is happening with your PB.
• Choose a labelnumber randomly. If everyone uses the last label (#7) the person above needs only one try!
• Use the "Auto-Label" option. Some applications like "Write Now 3.0" also display hidden folders in the files dialog. This means, if you want 100% shure to be protected, you've to label also the files you want to hide, not only the folders!
• Don't change the used label without using "Show" before. If not, some files will be hidden forever…
• If you are also using ILKA: don't put any secret file (even if it is labeled) onto the desktop. ILKA will unhide everything!
• If you use "At Ease", it changes doesn't take place if you just go to finder and then back to "At Ease": no tiles would be hidden there! You must restart, OR hold "Shift" "`" and press then "ctrl" "Command" and "esc". After you've entered a password you also get into the finder, but after return the tiles are recalculated!
Copyright & License
You may used Susi on every Macintosh you want to. Please spread the "Nice Pair" Package unmodified! If you're going to release it on CD-ROM it would be very nice if you could send me a copy of your CD-ROM too!
If you find SUSI so usefull that you want to spend some money, please send ONE US-Dollar to:
Michael Keller
Voglersheck 15
35753 Greifenstein
Germany
If you've any suggestions or bugs reports, please write me. You can reach me also via