Abstract: A portable processing device or system may permit a user to access a resource when a certain number of keys are present, according to an authentication policy and a context in which the certain number of keys are provided. In some contexts fewer or no keys may be required, while in other contexts more keys may be required. The authentication policy may be adaptable, such that a precautionary action may be taken when a previously unused combination of keys and a context are used. Further, the authentication policy may require a fewer number of keys close to a time of a last successful authentication and may require a larger number of keys as time passes since the last successful authentication. In some embodiments, a type of visual feedback of entered password text may change based on a security level.

Abstract: A wireless network scanning order may be optimized based on at least one item of known information. The at least one item of known information may include a wireless network usage history, scheduling information from a scheduling application, location data, or other items of information. Availability of one or more wireless networks may be predicted based on the at least one item of known information and a wireless network scanning order may be altered, such that a scan for a wireless network having a higher likelihood of availability occurs before a scan for other wireless networks. In other embodiments, a schedule may be created based on the at least one item of known information to predict availability of a wireless network. Based on the created schedule, a processing device may automatically wake up from an inactive state and may use a wireless network to exchange information via the wireless network.