more Veridicom news. Subj: Veridicom PC Peripheral to Integrate Smartcard Reader &...
Date: 9/11/00 8:24:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: AOL News
Veridicom PC Peripheral to Integrate Smartcard Reader & Fingerprint Sensor Aimed at E-business Markets
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2000--
5thSense(TM) Combo Peripheral Boosts Security With Convenient, Strong Authentication for Transactions Requiring Digital Signatures
Veridicom, Inc., the leader in fingerprint-based e-business authentication devices and services, today unveiled a PC peripheral to combine a smartcard reader with a highly accurate Veridicom fingerprint sensor into a single device no larger than a computer mouse. The compact Veridicom 5thSense Combo peripheral makes it convenient to use multi-factor authentication with a smartcard by replacing passwords and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) with simple "just-press-here" fingerprint authentication.
Veridicom's 5thSense Combo peripheral is designed to provide an increased level of security to today's digital certificate technology. Until now, the primary protection against theft or fraud involving digital signatures has been a PIN or a password used to access that private key. Using the 5thSense Combo peripheral, certificates and private keys stored on a user's smartcard can only be released to access data or authorize a transaction if the owner authenticates themselves with their fingerprint.
"PINs and passwords, the most widely used techniques for positive identification across the Internet are simply not enough," said Mike D'Amour, Veridicom president and CEO. "Authenticating the identity of a person electronically must be based on biometrics -- the physical traits, such as fingerprints, that are an undeniable part of who we are. Digital signatures, on the other hand, only verify what we possess and what we know. The 5thSense Combo peripheral combines biometrics and smartcards for undeniable identification of individuals conducting transactions with digital signatures."
Veridicom's multi-factor biometric security approach provides a convenient layer of authentication to smartcard operations for preventing unauthorized access to valuable data stored on the cards themselves or on servers, desktops, workstations or laptops. The unique 5thSense Combo peripheral was engineered for e-commerce businesses, government agencies, financial services companies, healthcare agencies and other organizations that require strong but easy-to-use security against the rising sophistication of hacker exploits and inside data theft.
"PINs and passwords associated with smartcards are simply not enough to prevent unauthorized use of systems and data," said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, Inc. "Veridicom's 5thSense Combo Sensor provides a necessary second layer of fingerprint authentication security that can help build the trust needed for e-business to continue to expand."
The 5thSense Combo peripheral -- which attaches to the host system using either a USB or parallel port connector -- measures only 4.25 inches long by 3.75 inches wide. The smartcard reader integrated into the peripheral supports over 40 smartcard types produced by the major manufacturers. Smartcard standards supported by the 5thSense Combo peripheral include ISO 7816-3, PC/SC (Microsoft), EMV3.0 and OCF (IBM OpenCard Framework).
The vertical design of the smartcard reader conveniently allows the user to leave the card in place so that fingerprint sensing can take place without holding the card. To log-on, users simply place their fingertip on the built-in, solid-state fingerprint sensor chip. After a high-resolution, highly accurate image of the fingerprint is accessed, a geometric pattern or template is extracted based on the unique ridges and valleys of each fingerprint. The fingerprint is erased and the scanned template is matched with a stored template before the user can gain access to valuable information on the card.
Communications between the Combo peripheral and the host Windows system is protected with Veridicom's advanced SecureLink(TM) link encryption technology. Each fingerprint image file is scrambled every time a fingerprint pattern is acquired and then securely transferred to the host computer system for decryption operations. The SecureLink feature protects systems from a variety of hacker exploits including "replay," "man in the middle" and sniffing attacks.
Key Features of the 5thSense Combo Peripheral
-- Fingerprint authentication eliminates the need for smartcard passwords and PINs
-- Automatically recognizes most popular smartcard types and standards
--Small footprint 4.25 by 3.75 inch size for portable log-on applications
-- Features SecureLink link encryption to secure transfer of data to the host system
-- USB or Parallel port (with a pass through connection) to the host computer
Pricing and Availability
The Veridicom 5thSense Combo peripheral is available now starting at $159 for a single unit.
About Veridicom
Veridicom, Inc. is the leader in fingerprint-based technologies and services that enable trusted e-business transactions across networks, intranets and the Internet. The company's extremely accurate silicon fingerprint sensors and peripherals, advanced recognition algorithms, and authentication software allow users to conduct business on-line without fraud or fear. Veridicom, the first technology spin-off from Lucent/Bell Labs, is delivering solutions with a distinct advantage over other authentication technologies that rely on passwords and personal identification numbers (PINs) that can be lost, forgotten or stolen. Veridicom's fingerprint sensors are being included in laptops, keyboards and mobile phones to provide secure authenticated access to the authorized users. Veridicom works closely with a growing list of vendors and systems integrators to provide network security solutions for Fortune 1000 companies around the world.
Note to Editors: Veridicom, 5thSense, FPS200, SecureLink and the Veridicom logo are trademarks of Veridicom, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
CONTACT:
Veridicom, Inc.
Karla Falat, 408/565-6060 (Marketing Comm. Manager)
karla@veridicom.com
or
Tsantes & Associates
Kerry Swanson, 408/369-1500 x39
kerry@tsantes.com |
