This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text, while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools. Send mail to mimeat_private for more info. --------------58AF1A604B7F Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=us-ascii Content-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.96.981215174830.11114Kat_private> http://cnnfn.com/hotstories/deals/wires/9812/14/ibm_wg/ IBM tightens Net security In bid to trump Sendmail, Big Blue offers free e-mail protection software and code December 14, 1998: 11:20 a.m. ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - IBM Corp. has announced software it says will protect electronic mail systems against existing vulnerabilities in an effort to boost confidence that the Internet is a safe place to do business. Called Secure Mailer, IBM (IBM) hopes the program will replace the existing Sendmail delivery software that currently processes more than three-quarters of Internet correspondence. "This will make IBM's and everyone's Internet activities more secure," promised Charles Palmer, IBM's network security research manager. Palmer said the current software used in most e-mail programs, developed nearly 20 years ago, suffers from "some nasty bugs" that have been known to delete files, send out password files and other "dumb things" that hackers can exploit to compromise security. In order to entice the software world to scrap this essentially free program, IBM not only plans to give away its own version of the product, but is publishing the underlying source code too. This allows programmers to tinker with the e-mail software's basic functions and develop improvements. This is a departure, but a necessary one for IBM. Sendmail Inc., the privately held distributor of the current e-mail program, already freely publishes its own programming code. IBM stands to benefit indirectly from solving security issues due to its large and rapidly growing investment in overall electronic commerce. The computer maker traditionally has guarded its proprietary software creations and is seen as a jealous defender of its patents. Chris King, analyst with industry researchers Meta Group, said he didn't see IBM giving up on its commercial goals by giving away some of its software secrets. "IBM sees this as an indirect revenue generator," he said. IBM said it is publishing the e-mail software code as a test run for developing "open source" software in general. The term refers to the source code that underlies any software program. In this case, IBM has agreed to openly publish what it has traditionally considered a trade secret. "It's clear we are kind of taking baby steps here and feeling it out," an IBM spokeswoman said. "The feeling is this (is) definitely an area to explore." IBM's move follows such other leading software makers as Netscape Communications Corp. (NSCP) and Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW), which in the past year have signed up for what is known in the industry as the open source software movement with Netscape's browser and Sun's Java program. Open source software has become popular with a growing number of programmers who see it as an alternative to the perceived stranglehold by Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)on new innovations through its dominant Windows operating system. The e-mail software is available on IBM's alphaWorks Web site. --------------58AF1A604B7F-- -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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