Preview: Guardian 3rd Edition by Symbian Toys
Sometimes, there’s nothing like an original. Many, many companies have developed security and device recovery applications for the S60 3rd platform but the simple fact is that each and every one left us wanting more. Whether there was essential functionality missing or it was just a case of too many useless features gobbling up resources, the ideal app has yet to be released. While that is still true, I’m glad to let you know that we’re much closer than you might think! Marco Bellino, Forum Nokia Champion and head developer of Symbian Toys, was kind enough to share the latest beta of their upcoming security solution with me and I’ve been impressed from start to finish.
In a nutshell, Guardian is exactly what other S60 3rd security solutions have tried to be; with a twist. It is designed to perform two core functions:
- Greatly assist in the recovery of a device that has been lost or stolen
- Restrict unauthorized access to any or all applications on a device
Light on resources and heavy on performance, Guardian 3rd really does attack each of the items above better than any other app I’ve seen. It’s remarkably easy to set up and my testing has gone phenomenally well. But as is my motto, talk is cheap. Let’s have a look:
In terms of setup, there are two main items that I’d like to highlight above all else. Why? Simply because they will give you a good idea of what this app is all about. It’s the little things and the attention to detail that really set Symbian Toys’ solution apart from the pack.
Firstly, as with several other competitive apps, Guardian 3rd has the ability to trigger an alarm and notification messages if the SIM is switched at any time. Of course this is essential functionality but what if you’re like me and you have several phones and just as many SIM cards? This app allows you to register multiple authorized SIM cards so dealing with changes is no longer a drill that involves punching keys as fast as possible, deafening alarms and needless SMS notifications.
The second item is with regards to application access restriction. Yes there are a few other apps that provide similar functionality, letting you scroll through a list and select each app that you would like to protect. All selected apps will then require the user to enter a password at launch before it can be utilized. The problem with these solutions is that if you use several protected apps in one sitting, you must continually enter the password as you open each app. If a user enters the password properly once, then obviously they will be able to enter it successfully for each other app. Why make it a PIA?
As you can see above, Symbian Toys has implemented an inactivity timer. Thank you! Now if you open one restricted app by successfully inputting the password, you will not be prompted for the password again when opening subsequent protected apps. This allows you to use all of the apps on your device without interruption as if Guardian 3rd wasn’t even installed on your device. When you’re done using the device and it becomes inactive, Guardian 3rd will automatically reinstate application protection after the defined amount of time has passed. Above you can see that I have it set for two minutes so once I enter my password correctly once, I won’t have to enter it again until my phone has been inactive for two minutes.
In terms of device recovery, no other app can come close to touching the effectiveness of Guardian 3rd. It supports a variety of remote SMS commands just as competitive apps do, in terms of operation at least. Specially formatted messages come in to the device silently so that a thief is not alerted to their arrival. Let’s take a look at the current list of commands:
- Delete: Deletes SMS/videos/pictures/records/contacts
- FakeSMS: Receives an SMS using a fake sender as specified
- Forward: Forwards sent/received SMS and the incoming/outgoing calls list
- Alarm: Sounds a loud siren
- Config: Modify Guardian’s configuration parameters
- Localize: Continuously sends (at a defined interval) the device’s current GPS location or the device’s cell-id retrieved from network.
Each of the above commands is quite useful but wait, what was that last one? That’s right, Guardian 3rd is capable of utilizing your device’s internal GPS (or external if available) to transmit the current location of the device at time intervals that you specify! Plug the data into Google Maps or a similar service and you can see the exact location of your device. But what if the device is indoors or does not have access to GPS, internal or otherwise? Guardian 3rd will instead utilize cell-id data to determine approximate position and transmit that data. Even still, the app will continuously attempt to retrieve GPS data and once it becomes available it will transmit; even if that is hours after the command has been sent! Also noteworthy, cell-id data will also be transmitted automatically with the initial SMS in the event of a SIM change.
Once available, Guardian 3rd will be offered in three different variants. Platinum (includes all available functionality), Gold (some limitations) and Free (basic functionality). For a better idea of what each version entails, check out the December 16 entry on the Guardian 3rd page. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If you have the option to spend a small amount of money on a security utility this advanced and it will assist in protecting your investment of $400 - $800+ along with all of your private data, you would be crazy not to take advantage of it. Guardian 3rd is still in private beta but I’m fairly confident that we’ll see a public release soon enough. Once this great app does become available, rest assured I’ll post a notice.
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