SafeGuard Advanced Security effectively complements firewalls and virus scanners

Y3K Security Products, the sole distributor for Utimaco products in Africa, today announced that Companies protecting their Windows PCs with Utimaco`s security software SafeGuard Advanced Security remained unaffected by the virus attacks of the last weeks.

The "I love you" virus which was hidden in a Visual Basic script and its mutations caused several billion dollars` worth of damage worldwide. A special feature of SafeGuard Advanced Security prevents users from creating or launching executable files on their hard disk or networks. The damaging script could therefore not be launched. The primary aim of this security feature is to prevent hacker programs, illegal program copies and computer games from being stored on company PCs. In the above case, the security system also proved to be a very effective remedy for a type of virus which had effortlessly passed most firewalls and initially all virus scanners.

The sealing of company PCs is an important issue in the professional IT environment. Its benefit is that companies can be sure that their PC networks are stabile, reliable and secure and that system changes can only be carried out within a controllable scope. The principle of sealing is as simple as it is effective: While the control mechanisms of Windows NT and Windows 2000 only protect objects (applications, files) which already exist, SafeGuard Advanced Security can generally restrict access to system functions. It can, for example, generally prohibit the creation and launch of executable files by certain users or user groups - no matter whether these are downloaded from the Internet or loaded from a CD-ROM or disk. The smuggling in of critical files by means of misleading extensions or a loophole in many firewalls can also be prevented: SafeGuard Advanced Security prevents the renaming of inconspicuous file extensions such as .RTF in executable extensions. This approach effectively supports the consistent separation of administrative and user functions already provided for in Windows NT and Windows 2000.

Apart from the sealing function, SafeGuard Advanced Security offers other important security features for professional Windows PCs, including a smart card logon based on certificates, fast user changes during operation, high-security file encryption and a single logon to network resources such as SAP R3, Lotus Notes, IBM 3270, etc.

More than 2 million licenses sold make Utimaco Safeware AG the leading European manufacturer of certified IT security solutions for professional use. Utimaco develops and sells integrated security solutions based on established standards for the following areas: mobile/desktop security, network security, e- commerce enabler and security infrastructure.

For further information, please contact Sales Manager Hilton Gray at tel. (011) 886 3757; fax (011) 787 1109; e-mail: hilton.gray@y3kgroup.com