Netscape Communicator Supports Smart Cards and Tokens So Mobile Users Can Safely Access
Corporate Networks Remotely
Netscape and 10 Leading Security Vendors Support RSA's PKCS #11 Standard;
Interoperable Solutions Enable Users to Take Digital Certificates on the Road
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Netscape Communications
Corporation (Nasdaq: NSCP) today announced it has delivered support for smart
cards and hardware tokens in Netscape(R) Communicator client software,
enabling mobile users to safely take their digital certificates on the road.
Netscape Communicator enables mobile users to carry their digital certificate
on a smart card or hardware token for enhanced security when remotely
accessing protected data stored on corporate networks or when sending and
receiving encrypted electronic mail from remote locations. In addition,
Netscape and 1O other leading security vendors announced they are supporting
the RSA Labs Public Key Cryptography Standard (PKCS #11) for smart cards and
tokens and are incorporating the standard into interoperable solutions for
enhanced protection of corporate data.
The 10 companies supporting PKCS #11 include: Bull Worldwide Information
Systems, Chrysalis-ITS, Datakey, Gemplus, Fischer International, Litronic,
Netscape Communications, Schlumberger, Security Dynamics and VASCO Data
Security. In addition, Chrysalis-ITS, Datakey, Fischer International,
Litronic, Security Dynamics and VASCO Data Security are delivering value-added
security products that integrate with Netscape Communicator to enhance data
protection for mobile users.
"Netscape has always taken a leadership position in designing and
delivering Internet security technologies. Now, we are making it even safer
for Netscape Communicator users to access information from the network while
on the road," said Rick Schell, senior vice president of the client products
division at Netscape. "Broad industry support for PKCS #11 ensures that
security vendors can deliver interoperable solutions that work well with
Netscape Communicator."
Digital certificates are the equivalent of a digital driver's license that
users present on the Internet and Extranets when accessing electronic mail or
data on corporate networks. Certificates deliver a stronger form of
authentication than user name and password combinations by using
public/private key cryptography.
Traditionally, users' certificates were located on their computer hard
drive and were protected by a user name and password, Netscape Communicator's
support for PKCS #11 enables users it transport their certificates on a smart
card or hardware! token so they can also access information from a wide array
of mobile devices including other computers on the network, home computers and
airport kiosks. If lost or stolen, smart cards and tokens are safe because
they cannot be used without the personal identification number (PIN), known
only to the user. Further, a smart card or token is typically disabled
automatically after a certain number of failed attempts to enter the correct
PIN. Smart cards and tokens also provide enhanced protection of user data
while at the office by separating users' certificates from their hard drives,
requiring a PIN and dramatically reducing the odds that any individual
Computer can be attacked.
"Public-Key Cryptography Standards were established to provide a catalyst
for interoperable security solutions based on public-key cryptographic
techniques, and they have become the basis for many formal standards," said
Jim Bidzos, president of RSA. "RSA is pleased to see Netscape and many other
leading security vendors adopting PKCS #11 and providing interoperable
security products."
The following leading security vendors support PKCS#11 and are delivering
security products that interoperate with Netscape Communicator:
* Chrysalis-ITS (http://www.chrysalis-its.com) provides the Luna PC card-based
encryption token for protected electronic commerce using Netscape
Communicator. The Luna token supports PKCS #11 for certificate portability
and executes security operations onboard so that encryption keys, algorithms
and the entire digital certificate remain on the hardware token and are not
loaded onto an unsecured host or passed over unsecure lines, where they can be
compromised.
* Datakey (http://www.datakey.com) provides the SignaSURE CIP(TM) (Cryptoki
Interface Provider) smart card or smart key cryptographic token add-on package
that processes and stores cryptographic data and digital certificates for user
identification, authentication and protected information exchange through
Netscape Communicator. SignaSURE CIP includes a hardware token, a
reader/writer and the interface software that is recognized and validated via
the PKCS #11 standard. Datakey also offers SignaSURE(TM) with Netscape
Communicator, a product bundle that includes the Netscape Communicator client
software suite and SignaSURE CIP software.
* Fischer International (http://www.fisc.com) provides the Smarty(TM) Smart card
reader which looks like a 3.5 inch diskette, has a slot in the back that
accepts a smart card, and fits into a personal computer 3.5 inch floppy disk
drive so users can access information stored on a smart card. Smarty's
support for Netscape Communicator through PKCS #11 means an ordinary floppy
drive on laptops and PCs can now be used as a smart card `gateway' to the
Internet for enhanced safety when accessing corporate data and conducting
electronic commerce.
* Litronic (http://www.litronic.com) provides NetSign, an easy-to-use smart card
system that further protects Internet and enterprise communications accessed
through Netscape Communicator. NetSign helps deliver single sign-on,
digitally-signed and encrypted email, and portable certificates through
support for the most widely deployed security standards including PKCS#11,
SSL, S/MIME and Object Signing. In addition, Litronic offers toolkits that
enable smart card integration in both Java and C++ as well as the Security
Management Center to initialize smart cards.
* Security Dynamics (http://www.securitydynamics.com) will offer the SecurID(R)
smart card on which Netscape Communicator users can store their digital
certificate, public/private keys, and user privileges for safely accessing
information, wherever it resides in the enterprise. Security Dynamics will
deliver these capabilities through support for the PCKS#11 industry standard
developed by its subsidiary RSA.
* VASCO Data Security (http://www.vasco.com) provides Internet AccessKey tokens
for authenticating enterprise Web users, Also, in conjunction with Datakey,
VASCO provides VACMan/CryptaPak, a smart card solution for enhanced security
when authenticating Netscape Communicator users who are remotely accessing
corporate networks. VACMan/CryptaPak includes hardware smart cards, a
reader/writer and the interface software for Netscape Communicator and VASCO's
RADIUS/TACACS Security Server.
Netscape Communicator with support for the PKCS #11 standard is available
now for immediate download from the Netscape Internet site. The specification
for the Public Key Cryptography Standard (PKCS #11) is now available from RSA
Labs at rsa.com. Documentation for
integrating PKCS#11 modules with Netscape products through the Netscape
Security API is available now at
developer.netscape.com/one/security/security.html.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software
for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet.
The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools and
commercial applications to create a complete platform for next-generation,
live online applications. Traded on NASDAQ Under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape
Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California,
NOTE: Netscape, Netscape Navigator and the Netscape logo are registered
trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and
other countries. Other Netscape logos and Netscape product and service names
are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which may be
registered in other countries.
Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available
on the internet at home.netscape.com, by sending email to
moreinfo@netscape.com. Corporate customers can call 415-937-2555 while
consumers can call 415-937-3777 for more information.
SOURCE Netscape Communications Corporation
CONTACT: Andrea Cook of Netscape, 415-937-6711,
andreac@netscape.com |
