Virtual safety

Article Abstract:

Some of the main reasons individuals are not leaping to implement electronic commerce include the inability to identify sellers and buyers, the difficulty of safeguarding payment transactions and the perceived lack of security online. New technologies, however, are being developed to help facilitate security in the virtual arena. Intuit chmn Scott Cook contends that the Internet lacks an element of trust. Firms are addressing three problems to reach a higher level of trust, including making sure unauthorized people cannot snoop around transactions, ensuring hackers cannot tamper with transactions and verifying identities of buyers and sellers. Public-key encryption is emerging as an important technology for achieving these goals. It utilizes groups of numerical formulas for scrambling data so that it cannot be read by unauthorized individuals. Other innovations include digital signatures, Secure Electronic Transaction technology, smart cards and electronic checks technology.

Communications Software Pkgs (Micro), Innovations, Safety and security measures, Encryption, Data encryption, Technology development, Design and construction, Electronic commerce, E-commerce, Data security, Internet/Web technology, Data security issue, Smart cards, Smart card

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Start-up firm plans to attack unwanted E-mail

Article Abstract:

Bright Light Technologies intends to market software designed to allow ISPs and corporations set up fictitious E-mail accounts on top Internet services. The software would allow users to combat the flood of unsolicited and E-mail messages. Bright Light, a startup founded in Oct 1997 by Sunil Paul, takes a new approach to the problem by adding to spammers's targeted chat rooms, bulleting boards and World Wide Web sites. The software would send mail from the fictitious accounts to a Bright Light operations for spam inspection. Customers then will receive instructions from Bright Light on how to shield consumers from specific messages. Concentric Network, AT&T's EarthLink Network and USA.NET are among the Internet services testing the Bright Light software. Spam accounts for up to 25 million messages, or approximately 10%, of all international E-mail on a daily basis, according to estimates.

Software, Product development, Electronic mail systems, E-mail, Email, Email software, Software product development, Company organization, Spam (Junk email), Unsolicited bulk e-mail, Bright Light Technologies Inc.

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Netscape to share browser program code

Article Abstract:

Netscape Communications announced that it will give away its World Wide Web software, as well as source code. The company hopes its move will counter archrival Microsoft's successful inroads into the Web browser market. CEO James Barksdale's decision to post the source code surprised analysts, because Netscape is hoping it will yield improvements from third-party software companies. Netscape then could incorporate the ideas into future versions of its Netscape Communicator product line. Netscape, which already uses third-party tactics in developing several Internet programs distributed on a nonprofit basis, also is making its products more vulnerable to cloning. Netscape's large market-share lead over Microsoft is threatened by Internet service companies and other high-volume distribution channels that provide free browser software to their customers.

Computer software industry, Software industry, Prices and rates, Internet access software, Web browser, Web browsers, Netscape Communications Corp., NSCP, Company pricing policy

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