Custom Keypad

AltmanSoftware

A custom keypad would be a great addition to the iPad app; being able to type non-alphanumeric characters without double shifting would be a great enhancement for those of us who use strong passwords to secure our keychains. In fact, I'd love it if you provided a custom keypad and got rid of the 4-digit passcode (which I never felt was up to pass, security-wise).



Keep up the great work!

RobYoder

[quote name='AltmanSoftware']A custom keypad would be a great addition to the iPad app; being able to type non-alphanumeric characters without double shifting would be a great enhancement for those of us who use strong passwords to secure our keychains. In fact, I'd love it if you provided a custom keypad and got rid of the 4-digit passcode (which I never felt was up to pass, security-wise).



Keep up the great work![/QUOTE]



Hi AltmanSoftware,



I'm not sure what we could do to improve this. Each of the three keyboard views contains characters that could be used to type a password. We can't get rid of any of the keys, so I'm not sure what you are suggesting. On the iPad, there is no 4-digit passcode. You are allowed to choose your own master password. On the iPhone, the 4-digit unlock code only allows access to item lists and the details of items marked "low security." All logins, plus some other item types, require the master password to be typed.

slvrstn

The way I read the original post, I can envision the poster asking for the ability to rearrange the keyboard so that the keys for their particular passwords all exist on the same screen and the unused keys are available on the alternate page. 1P would present this alternate keyboard when filling in passwords and the regular kbd for other inputs. It's an interesting UI idea, although I'm not sure if there is an API to allow the user to set this kind of thing up. Also, it would compromise security if you used this feature since it would greatly constrain the range of characters used (although you would still be able to use any of them, but that would kind of negate the usefulness of the feature)

RobYoder

[quote name='slvrstn']The way I read the original post, I can envision the poster asking for the ability to rearrange the keyboard so that the keys for their particular passwords all exist on the same screen and the unused keys are available on the alternate page. 1P would present this alternate keyboard when filling in passwords and the regular kbd for other inputs. It's an interesting UI idea, although I'm not sure if there is an API to allow the user to set this kind of thing up. Also, it would compromise security if you used this feature since it would greatly constrain the range of characters used (although you would still be able to use any of them, but that would kind of negate the usefulness of the feature)[/QUOTE]



If that is what he is requesting, it unfortunately would be a huge security problem and would negate the purpose of using special characters. However, I can certainly understand the convenience factor of this. I would say that if you want it to be more convenient, just use a password composed of letters. It won't be any easier for a "bad person" to crack than a keyboard with only the characters from your password on the keyboard. The only case I can see this being different is if you are referring to web logins and not your iPad master password, though 1Password should fill those logins for you.

AltmanSoftware

While a re-arrangeable keyboard is an interesting idea, it would be a huge security risk and it was not actually what I was suggesting.



What I was suggesting was a keyboard that had more keys immediately accessible without requiring shifting to the number/symbol display.



The fact that some characters are immediately accessible, some require one "shift", and others require two "shifts" makes some passwords harder to enter than others, and I recognize the desirability of creating a password that is easier to enter (fewer "shift" key-presses).



I'm suggesting that a custom-created keypad with all upper, lower, numeric, and symbol character no more than one "shift" away would be a good thing from a security perspective.



I'm not actually suggesting it would be easy to implement; it also may actually be so cramped that it would be harder to use. My goal was to suggest this as a useful feature (or option) and let the wonderfully creative team who created 1Password on the iPad consider if there was a way to make use of the idea to make the app even better than it already is.



Enough said (from me, anyway).

khad

Thanks for the clarification, AltmanSoftware! I will pass this along to the developers who I am sure will take it under advisement.



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Cheers,