User-defined passwords having associated unique version data to assist user recall of the password

1. A method for use in an electronic device that stores data encrypted with a password, said method comprising:

storing a second user-specified password;

storing encrypted data;

determining that said encrypted data was encrypted using a first user-specified password, said first user-specified password temporally preceding said second user-specified password;

automatically generating unique version data, wherein said unique version data includes a date on which said first user-specified password was defined;

using said unique version data associated with said first user-specified password to generate a prompt for said first user-specified password;

receiving an entered password;

using said entered password to decrypt said encrypted data, thereby generating decrypted data; and

using said second user-specified password to encrypt said decrypted data, thereby generating re-encrypted data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said first user-specified password in association with said unique version data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising using said first user-specified password to encrypt said data, thereby generating said encrypted data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said version data comprises an integer value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said version data comprises a data string.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said version data comprises cryptographic private key data.

7. A method for use in an electronic device that stores data encrypted with a password, said method comprising:

storing a second user-specified password;

storing encrypted data;

determining that said encrypted data was encrypted using a first user-specified password, said first user-specified password temporally preceding said second user-specified password;

using unique version data associated with said first user-specified password to generate a prompt for said first user-specified password wherein, for successively defined passwords, said unique version data includes specific data that has respective successively increasing or decreasing value; receiving an entered password;

using said entered password to decrypt said encrypted data, thereby generating decrypted data; and

using said second user-specified password to encrypt said decrypted data, thereby generating re-encrypted data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said specific data corresponds to counter data that is incremented or decremented responsive to receiving each newly defined password.

9. An electronic device that stores data encrypted with a password, said device comprising:

data memory for storing:

encrypted data;

a first user-specified password;

unique version data associated with said first user-specified password, wherein said version data includes a date on which said first user-specified password was defined;

a second user-specified password;

a central processing unit for:

automatically generating said unique version data;

using said unique version data to generate a prompt for said first user-specified password;

receiving an entered password;

using said entered password to decrypt said encrypted data, thereby generating decrypted data; and

using said second user-specified password to encrypt said decrypted data, thereby generating re-encrypted data.

10. A non-transitory computer program storage medium carrying a computer program for an electronic device that stores data encrypted with a password, said program being capable, when executed, of effecting a method comprising:

storing a second user-specified password;

determining that data was encrypted using a first user-specified password, said first user-specified password preceding said second user-specified password;

automatically generating unique version data, wherein said unique version data includes a date on which said first user-specified password was defined;

using said unique version data associated with said first user-specified password to generate a prompt for said first user-specified password;

receiving an entered password;

using said entered password to decrypt said encrypted data, thereby generating decrypted data; and

using said second user-specified password to encrypt said decrypted data, thereby generating re-encrypted data.

11. An electronic device that stores data encrypted with a password, said device comprising:

data memory for storing:

encrypted data;

a first user-specified password;

unique version data associated with said first user-specified password, wherein, for successively defined passwords, said unique version data includes specific data that has respective successively increasing or decreasing value;

a second user-specified password;

a central processing unit for:

using said unique version data to generate a prompt for said first user-specified password;

receiving an entered password;

using said entered password to decrypt said encrypted data, thereby generating decrypted data; and

using said second user-specified password to encrypt said decrypted data, thereby generating re-encrypted data.

12. A non-transitory computer program storage medium carrying a computer program for an electronic device that stores data encrypted with a password, said program being capable, when executed, of effecting a method comprising:

storing a second user-specified password;

determining that data was encrypted using a first user-specified password, said first user-specified password preceding said second user-specified password;

using unique version data associated with said first user-specified password to generate a prompt for said first user-specified password wherein, for successively defined passwords, said unique version data includes specific data that has respective successively increasing or decreasing value;

receiving an entered password;

using said entered password to decrypt said encrypted data, thereby generating decrypted data; and

using said second user-specified password to encrypt said decrypted data, thereby generating re-encrypted data.