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New Products
Novell this week rolled out Novell Nsure SecureLogin 3.5, an updated edition of its single sign-on and password management software. New to this version is support for Swing and AWT-based Java applications and applets; version 3.5 also eliminates the need to deploy the Novell client to put advanced features such as biometric logon in the hands of users. In touting SecureLogins new support for Java–the first enterprise single sign-on solution to do so, according to Novell–Alan Nugent, Novells chief technology officer, said, “The effectiveness of a password management system hinges on the number of applications it can integrate with. Otherwise single sign-on becomes sort-of sign-on, which only complicates the problem.”
Symantec this week unveiled Norton SystemWorks 2004, Norton Internet Security 2004 and Norton AntiSpam 2004. SystemWorks 2004 offers updated antivirus and antiworm protection, as well as a new password management feature that will ease and secure the process of managing multiple passwords, the company said. For example, the Norton Password Manager allows users to manage their various Internet, Windows and application passwords while preventing them from being accessed by unauthorized users. All three software products are expected to be available in mid-to-late September, the company said.
Internet
Still recovering from a summer of Internet infections, colleges are taking unusually aggressive steps to protect campus computer networks from virus outbreaks. Back-to-back waves of devastating infections that spread quickly across the Internet during August crippled some college and high school networks just before the start of the fall semester. The attacks overwhelmed many technology departments already starved for employees and money. At the University of North Texas, technicians are removing viruses from roughly 16 computers every 90 minutes–plus assessing a mandatory $30 cleaning fee. Students who have infections cleaned from their computers off campus must show proof before theyre allowed to log back onto the school network.
Intellectual Property
A U.S. software company is fighting moves by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to have the sale of its DVD-copying software banned in the U.K. 321 Studios said it would “vigorously defend” itself against the MPAAs claims that its software breaches the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 by allowing anti-copying protection of DVDs to be bypassed. The MPAA is seeking an injunction in the High Court next week against the company. This would prevent 321s UK branch from selling its DVD X Copy software to UK users until a High Court judge rules on the issue of copyright at a full court hearing.
Privacy
IBM is least likely to snoop on its employees, while drug maker Eli Lilly and Co is the most notorious Big Brother boss, Wired magazine said in its October edition. The technology magazine surveyed watchdog organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Privacy Foundation to determine which large, publicly traded companies were the best and worst for workplace privacy. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Hilton Hotels Corp. were criticized for secretly taping employees, while the New York Times Co. drew hisses for requiring doctors to disclose employee medical records.