Smart Protect

by Matt Browne

This program is designed for RISC OS 3.1 or later.

When a file is deleted from a disc, only its reference in the disc catalogue is normally removed; the data itself remains on the disc, and can be retrieved using a disc editor. Smart Protect gives you the extra security of knowing that confidential data has really been deleted and cannot be retrieved by such means! With Smart Protect active, deleting a file will first overwrite it with blank space before performing a 'normal' delete, thus ensuring that the data really is irretrievable.

It is not recommended to use Smart Protect all the time, as it inevitably takes longer to delete each file. Apart than that, there are no other side-effects. As it is an essential aspect of security, most network systems do the same thing as Smart Protect when files are deleted, so it is not really of any great use on a network!

Smart Protect is written in 100% ARM Assembler for speed and efficiency. The front-end is fully RISC OS-compliant, and uses DoggySoft's excellent WimpExtension module. (For the latest version of WimpExtension, please contact DoggySoft.)

Using Smart Protect
Smart Protect is a relocatable module, and provides a star command (documented below) that allows you to control it.

A front-end to the module is also included, and is loaded when you double-click on the !SmartProt icon. It allows you to turn the Smart Protect system on and off.

When you first load the module or run the !SmartProt application, the Smart Protect system is activated automatically.

The front-end
The Smart Protect front-end places an icon on the icon bar: if the icon is pressed in, the Smart Protect system is active; otherwise it is turned off. If you click on the icon with Select or Adjust, the Smart Protect module is toggled between on and off. Clicking on the icon with Menu brings up the Smart Protect menu, which also allows you to turn the Smart Protect system on or off.

To quit the application, choose Quit from the icon bar menu. If you move to the menu to the right of the Quit entry, another submenu will be displayed. Choosing All will quit both the front-end and remove the Smart Protect module from memory. Choosing Front end will quit the front-end but leave the Smart Protect module as it is.

The module doesn't have to have the front-end running at the same time for it to work; the front-end is merely a method of controlling the module.

The Smart Protect module
The module provides a single star command:
	*SmartProtect [<On|Off>]
This command allows the Smart Protect system to be controlled. The command should either specify On or Off to change state, or be used with no parameter to display the current status of the module.

Author:	Matt Browne
		rover@arcade.demon.co.uk

Copyright  RISC User 1995