May/June 2005

Extra security has been added to the PartsArena technical information system from Infomill, protecting data from being copied to another computer. PartsArena allows large volumes of diagrams, service instructions and other complex technical data to be stored on PC, Pocket PC or Windows SmartPhone devices.

The new system uses data compression and encryption procedures to protect information held by the system. The process "locks down" the data held on an SD card so that it can only be run on the machine on which it was originally installed. It works by the generation and registration of a 25 character code.

For field use, where the data may be held on a vulnerable portable or handheld device, there is also the option for system administrators to set a "time-bomb", so that the data will stop working after a set period (notably when the device has been stolen).