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List:       isn
Subject:    [ISN] Compaq Granted Bulk Licenses to Export 128-Bit Encryption
From:       mea culpa <jericho () dimensional ! com>
Date:       1998-09-23 20:51:53
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Forwarded From: phreak moi <hackerelite@deathsdoor.com>


http://www.infoseek.com/Content?arn=BW1090-19980923&qt=security&sv=IS&lk=noframes&col=NX&kt=A&ak=news1486

Compaq Granted One of the First-Ever Bulk Licenses to Export 128-Bit
Encryption to Financial Institutions
08:11 a.m. Sep 23, 1998 Eastern

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 1998--

Accelerated deployment--banks gain immediate access to 128-bit encryption
for international electronic commerce

In a move that further fortifies the secure global electronic commerce
infrastructure, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) today announced
that it is one of the first computer companies to obtain a bulk license
from the U.S.  government to export 128-bit public-key encryption
technology for the banking industry. The announcement allows Compaq's
banking customers to implement 128-bit secure communications with the
iTP(tm) Certificate Security Solution (CSS) across their international
operations without waiting the three months normally required to obtain an
individual export license. 

Until today's announcement, 128-bit public key encryption technologies
sold by U.S. companies have been restricted by U.S. law to distribution
only in the United States and Canada, except by special license from the
U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration. For a bank or
other organization, the approval process for an individual license can
take several months. In contrast, Compaq is now able to distribute 128-bit
encryption solutions to banks for deployment outside of North America with
minimal delay--often within a day of when the order is received. 

Public-key encryption provides security and enables authentication for
messages sent over private and public networks such as the Internet. The
greater the number of bits used in the encryption process, the more
difficult the message is to crack. When compared with 40-bit
encryption--currently the most powerful encryption technology available
for immediate U.S. export--128-bit encryption is 3.09 x 10 to the 26th
power times more difficult to decipher, thus making it the most secure
encryption technology commercially available.  Meaning, if the same
technology that took eight hours to decipher a 40-bit message was applied
to a 128-bit message, it would take more than two trillion years to break. 

"While a 40-bit encrypted message has been cracked within 3 1/2 hours,
using extensive computing resources, 128-bit encryption is seen as
providing iron-clad protection for years to come,"  said Jerry Peterson,
Vice President, Financial Services Industry, Compaq Computer Corporation.
"We are pleased to enable our banking customers to be at the forefront of
rapidly deploying such a powerful security solution for their
communications outside of North America." 

The 128-bit technology will be used in conjunction with the iTP(tm) 
Certificate Security Solution (CSS) from Compaq, a comprehensive family of
integrated security products for applications requiring cryptography and
the use of digital certificates to authenticate and authorize users,
ensure the privacy and integrity of information, and provide data for
non-repudiation. Introduced in March, CSS is part of a full range of
Compaq products and services designed to provide organizations with the
same reliability, scalability and security over the Internet that they
have traditionally enjoyed over private networks. 

In addition to encryption, CSS also provides administrative services to
manage security policies, users, certificates, and keys. Users can be
registered and their certificates managed throughout the certificate life
cycle. 

The iTP CSS solution from Compaq, with support for 128-bit public-key
encryption, is available now. Customers requiring further information on
iTP CSS can visit the web site of Compaq's Tandem Division at
http://www.tandem.com or visit Compaq's website at http://www.compaq.com.
Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a Fortune Global 100
company. Compaq is the second largest computer company in the world and
the largest global supplier of personal computers. Compaq develops and
markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including
industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant
business-critical solutions, networking and communication products,
commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is
an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and business
practices. 

Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through
a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and
information about Compaq and its products are available at
http://www.compaq.com. 

Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names
mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective companies. Tandem and iTP are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Tandem Computers Incorporated in the United States and/or
other countries. 

-o-
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