Export to Dropbox etc I have no problem with. 

On the password issue I'm still against it:

Yes, you could check for fingerprints. Of course this area is barely 
standardised. Samsung for instance I believe have their own API. Or at least 
had. And it only exists on newer phones. So even before you start you're 
limiting yourself. 

The 20 accounts thing was a serious point. To me exporting settings is 
something a user does maybe once a year to upgrade phones. Entering a couple of 
passwords once a year is not particularly onerous. 

I asked you to clarify 'we' because I'm genuinely trying to work out why it's 
worth K-9 developers adding and then maintaining this feature. 

Cost of developing it is probably small in comparison to cost of maintenance. 
K-9 has lots of settings, and these settings can interact in odd ways. Often it 
is that interaction that causes issues. 

And while I'm not against a configurable app, I'm also opposed to adding more 
dialogues and UX to functionality. That K-9 is not suitable for the average 
user is a problem to me, not a selling point. 

So adding a dialog and security check and file encryption then maintaining that 
indefinitely so a user doesn't have to verify they know the password to their 
own email account at most once a year... Yeah I don't see it. 

- Philip

On November 13, 2016 12:58:43 PM GMT+00:00, finbarr69 <[email protected]> 
wrote:
>Thanks. What you say all makes sense.  However, I would submit that one
>cannot assume the average user does not have 20+ accounts in K9, unless
>you
>have some data to back up that assumption? The average user would be
>using
>the stock email app, not the excellent K9 :-)
>
>Regarding passwords , all the ones I have to deal with are randomly
>generated, wildly different from each other, usually at least 16
>characters
>and so not easy to remember.  The phone is protected by fingerprint and
>pin.  Would it not be possible to request from the operating system a
>security check before exporting the file?  There is an API hook
><https://developer.android.com/about/versions/marshmallow/android-6.0.html#fingerprint-authentication>
>to do this, and other apps can do it.  Once authenticated, ask for a
>password to encrypt the settings.  If the user has no lock on the phone
>and
>no fingerprint sensor, then K9 could export without the passwords, and
>give
>a warning to this effect.
>
>Also, if the phone can import settings from cloud storage (eg Dropbox),
>it
>should have the ability to export there too. :-)
>
>Warmest regards,
>
>Brian
>
>
>On 10 November 2016 at 12:25, Philip Whitehouse <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>> On 2016-11-10 11:05, finbarr69 wrote:
>>
>>> In migrating from one phone to another, we want it to be as easy as
>>> possible.  I used the Helium app to backup all the apps (and their
>>> data) and restore them, but sadly it didn't backup the K9 data,
>>> presumably because it stores it in a non-standard way?
>>>
>>
>> The data is stored in an SQL database, the account settings are
>stored in
>> device preferences. It's all pretty standard.
>>
>> Storing the settings in account preferences means it is is encrypted
>(and
>> fairly difficult to get to from another app).
>>
>> I would guess Helium doesn't back-up preferences. I would be
>surprised if
>> it had access on a non-rooted phone frankly.
>>
>>
>>> So, plan B, export then import.  Export has its problems because it
>>> only exports to the local filesystem, not to Dropbox or SD (though,
>>> Import has the ability to import from Dropbox or SD).  Anyway, using
>>> a file manager app, I managed to find and copy the exported file
>over
>>> to Dropbox and import it on the new phone.  BUT... I then have to
>>> re-input all my email passwords.  This is very tedious when I've 20
>>> email accounts in K9 and the passwords are all very obscure and
>>> different :-)
>>>
>>> So, here's my feature request.  Please can the account passwords be
>>> included in the export?  Even if we have to encrypt the export with
>a
>>> master password, this would really help when migrating phones.
>>> Please also can we have the option to send the exported file to
>>> Dropbox (or wherever, same as the import options are?).
>>>
>>>
>> The question here is what is the threat model.
>>
>> 1. The file itself could be intercepted.
>>
>> This makes the master password idea seem reasonable. Encrypting the
>file
>> prevents it being used.
>>
>> 2. The act of exporting the settings is the vulnerability.
>>
>> If you grab someone's phone, right now there is no way to retrieve
>the
>> account password.
>>
>> If we add this feature, there will be. Simply export the file with a
>> master password, then decrypt the file using that password. There is
>no way
>> to prevent this.
>>
>> You could argue that device security is the responsibility of the
>phone
>> password. But equally file security is the responsibility of the
>user.
>>
>> Who is 'we' here? I would suggest having 20 accounts on K-9 is a rare
>> case. And having a password you can't remember is generally not
>normal
>> practice anyway.
>>
>> I feel like this is an edge case that doesn't justify the code or the
>> insecurity.
>>
>>
>> Oh, also an easier way to move the accounts up or down would be
>>> appreciated.  Drag and drop would be ideal.  At present one has to
>>> long hold on an account and press Move Up (or Move down) and then
>>> repeat it until the desired position is achieved (then repeat for
>all
>>> the other accounts).
>>>
>>
>> I don't have a problem with this - I would guess you'd enable a
>re-order
>> mode. I have no idea about how easy it is to implement.
>>
>>
>>> I'd be happy to make a donation if it helps.
>>>
>>
>> Personally not for me - maybe for some of the other developers or
>someone
>> else willing to do it contract-style.
>>
>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Brian
>>>
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Best regards,

Philip Whitehouse

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