Bellcore systems named security award finalists.PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 1996--Bellcore announced today that two of its security software systems have been nominated as finalists for the 1996 Readers Trust Awards by Infosecurity News, a leading security magazine for information security professionals. Bellcore's S/KEY(TM) one-time password (security) One-Time Password - (OTP) A security system that requires a new password every time a user authenticates themselves, thus protecting against an intruder replaying an intercepted password. OTP generates passwords using either the MD4 or MD5 hashing algorithms. authentication system The combination of authentication server and authenticator, which may be separate devices or both reside in the same unit such as an access point or network access server. The authentication server contains a database of user names, passwords and policies, and the authenticator physically and its PINGWARE(TM) network security scanner Software that analyzes a network to determine its exposure to unwanted intruders. Also called "vulnerability scanners," such products check client PCs, servers, routers, firewalls, network appliances, system software and applications for vulnerabilities that include open ports, trapdoors, were two of five finalists selected by a panel of security experts. A ballot of finalists were voted on by readers of the March/April issue of Infosecurity News. Winners will be announced at the LAN/SEC '96 award luncheon in Washington later this month. The S/KEY system -- nominated as Best Authentication Product -- helps protect computer networks and their users against password theft from electronic eavesdropping Secretly gaining unauthorized access to confidential communications. Examples include listening to radio transmissions or using laser interferometers to reconstitute conversations by reflecting laser beams off windows that are vibrating in synchrony to the sound in the room. . The system generates a new password at each login, prohibiting thieves from using old stolen passwords to gain access to a network. This dynamic password, combined with a user's own private passcode, is what ultimately crosses the network. Since an S/KEY user's secret password never crosses the network, potential thieves cannot intercept it to break into a computer system. Compared to electronic card security systems, the S/KEY software system simplifies network security and reduces costs by eliminating the need to administer, maintain and replace secure passwords and electronic card devices. The PINGWARE system was nominated for the best UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). (R)-Platform Security Product. The system lets network administrators automatically scan the network for potential vulnerabilities. Once specific weaknesses have been found, the PINGWARE system provides administrators with a detailed profile of suspected targets for intruders. Since the nominations, Bellcore has introduced a newer version of the S/KEY system offering a full range of Macintosh, PC Windows and PC DOS PC DOS Personal Computer Disk Operating System (IBM) features. It offers the added security of MD5 while maintaining backward compatibility See backward compatible. (jargon) backward compatibility - Able to share data or commands with older versions of itself, or sometimes other older systems, particularly systems it intends to supplant. with MD4. This fully tested, commercial product also conforms with the IETF See Internet Engineering Task Force. IETF - Internet Engineering Task Force Internet draft standard for one-time passwords. Bellcore is a leading provider of telecommunications software, engineering and consulting services based on world-class research. Bellcore makes information technology work for telecommunications carriers, business and governments worldwide. More information about Bellcore is available at its website, http://www.bellcore.com. For more information on the S/KEY or PINGWARE systems, visit Bellcore's website at http://www.bellcore.com/SECURITY. -0- S/KEY and PINGWARE are trademarks of Bellcore. UNIX is a registered trademark licensed exclusively through X/Open Ltd. CONTACT: Bellcore Annie Lindstrom, 201/829-4062 or alindstr@cc.bellcore.com or Barbara Kaufman, 201/829-2178 or bkaufman@notes.cc.bellcore.com |
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