Forwarded From: William Knowles <erehwonat_private> A Pretty Picture Of Computer Security By Mo Krochmal, TechWeb Mar 9, 1999 (3:21 PM) URL: http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19990309S0028 PassLogix, a New York City software start-up, said it hopes users will get the picture when it comes to network security. The three-year-old privately held company on Monday rolled out v-GO, an application that uses a graphical interface to manage passwords. Easily guessed and often hacked, passwords are widely regarded as the weak link in network security. All types of sophisticated identification schemes -- from retinal imaging to thumbprint scanning -- depend on a password for an added layer of security. v-GO lets users create and protect a universal password by navigating through an image. Entering a password is done by clicking on a series of items within that image. The company's demonstration used a kitchen metaphor, whereby a user takes a turkey and puts it in the oven, then dips the asparagus in water, and sets a timer to open an application. "The idea is cute," Seamus McAteer, an analyst for Jupiter Communications in New York, said. "It's a new category." The v-GO software can store 128-bit encrypted regular IDs and passwords and then automatically log users into protected websites, applications, files, or services with the universal password. The company is giving away a version for the consumer market but will eventually sell an extended version for corporate use at $40 to $60 per user, said Marc Boroditsky, PassLogix CEO. One analyst said the product takes 26 minutes to download using a 28.8 modem and that might be a barrier to entering the consumer market. "That's a steep hill to climb," said McAteer of Jupiter. "But with a Disney branded interface, it could be something big for the kids' market." The software runs on Windows 95, 98, and NT, but the company plans to release versions for the Mac OS and popular handheld device Oses, such as Windows CE, Boroditsky said. The company will also bundle in a tool that will let users build their own interface for advertising and marketing. "We want it to be as easy as picking a screensaver," said Boroditsky. -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Internet Security Institute [www.isi-sec.com]
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