Review of PowerProtect

Symbian platform: UIQ
Review first published in: Palmtop User magazine, issue 7

Given UIQ's Palm-like interface, in which files are mostly organised for you, it was always going to be interesting to see how third party developers managed to implement an all-purpose encyption utility. SymbianWare have done a good job with PowerProtect, using the same classifications as UIQ itself, with tabs for pictures, sounds, video clips, documents (though only those in named folders) and 'custom'. From this last tab, you can select any file using a traditional hierarchical folder browser. Once selected, items are remembered and handled by PowerProtect while in locked-down state and by your regular applications while unlocked.

PowerProtect does its best not to get in the way. You only need to enter your master password when starting the utility, with all operations after that, including opening encrypted items, performed quickly and intuitively. Encryption and decryption speeds are around 20 seconds per megabyte, quite acceptable on this class of device. 15 Euros, from www.symbianware.com