Sensor Software
Sensor software is the kind of program that for a long time appeared to have been reserved for the techies – the kinds of guys who would password protect their desktop computers, put a secret code onto their phones, and are now looking for ways to protect their data if their PDA should ever get lost or stolen. While there are many different kinds of sensor software available, most of them are still used for the military and for those areas in everyday businesses that require security clearances. Yet with the rise in identity theft crimes, the notion that personal data – and especially the kind of information that contains sensitive personal facts such as social security numbers, account numbers, and birth dates – must be protected against theft, the idea of using sensor software is coming closer and closer to the mainstream. Add to this the murky world of industrial espionage, hostile company takeovers, and the legal wrangling many a company is involved in, and you can only imagine the sensitive information that must be protected!

Consider the case of an account executive who keeps a lot of proprietary data in her or his PDA. Stored for future use, for negotiations, or simply for everyday business reasons is extremely useful for that person, yet what about the competition? Who is to say that a gadget as small as a PDA is not a target for theft either from a crook that is after personal info that will be turned into fraudulent credit charges, or from a crook for hire who will deliver the little device to a devious business magnate?

While there are different kinds of software are used to keep the PDAs save and locked, these programs will do nothing if not engaged. It is unlikely, however, that a user will always remember to lock the gadget when not in use and to this end some companies have begun to develop and market sensor software. Biometrics is an interesting part and parcel of sensor software in general and sensor software for PDA users in particular. While a retina scan might be taking it a little far, the idea of having a fingerprint recognition sensor embedded in a PDA and supported by software is not a new thought. Consider the small size of the AuthenTec sensor – about the size of a penny – and imagine that little field on your PDA. While it is still a long ways away from being a standard feature or from there being free sensor software for your PDA, sensor software is already available and a sensor for your PDA could be retrofitted. Software – though not free of charge – is already available and for those who are really concerned about security and do not mind spending the extra money, this kind of technology could be yours today!