Legislators Join Privacy Advocates, Software Executives to Commemorate End
Of Cold War Era Restrictions on Strong Data Scrambling Technology
RSA DATA SECURITY CONFERENCE, SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ --
PGP Security, a Network Associates (Nasdaq: NETA) company, today announced
that its PGP strong encryption software has been successfully exported from
the United States for the first time under new, recently liberalized export
regulations. At an event launching the new PGP Security business unit of
Network Associates, Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Congresswoman
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) became the first to export the software, sending an email
with powerful encryption software attached to a recipient in the United
Kingdom. This simple act would have been designated a federal crime until
just last week, when new regulations were adopted by the U.S. Department of
Commerce to allow use of U.S.-developed data-scrambling technology worldwide.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991104/NETALOGO )
(A photo of the Congressmen sending the software overseas from the PGP
Security launch party at the RSA Data Security trade show is available on
AP and Bloomberg newswires.)
Encryption has been used for hundreds of years as a tool of war, allowing
feuding generals to encode messages on troop movements without fear of
interception. Today, encryption is used widely to secure sensitive data, such
as credit card numbers or medical records, as it travels across the Internet.
Because the complicated data-scrambling renders stolen information useless, it
can also be used to protect data such as customer records on file servers, to
prevent unscrupulous employees or hackers making off with a valuable cache of
data in one fell swoop.
"This is an important day not just for security, but for privacy," said
Alan Davidson of the Center for Democracy and Technology, which also
participated in the ceremonial export of PGP encryption. "This technology
will make it easier for people all around the world to get access to the tools
they need to protect themselves online. Better access to encryption is
essential if people are ultimately going to trust the Internet with their
sensitive business and personal information as they move their lives online."
The Members of Congress were invited to be the first to export PGP
encryption in recognition of their years of staunch advocacy for reasonable
export regulations. Lofgren and Goodlatte were two of the leaders of a
movement which spanned Republicans, Democrats, business interests, civil
libertarians, the computer software industry, free trade activists and First
Amendment advocates. In Fall 1999, the Clinton Administration announced their
intent to complete modernization of the restrictions, and after much input by
national security, business, and civil liberties interests, new regulations
were published on January 14th, 2000.
The PGP software was honored at the export event based on its history and
its status as the most widely used email encryption software in the world.
PGP encryption was first developed by Phil Zimmermann in 1991, based on his
belief that widespread availability of strong encryption would help the
Internet reach its full potential for connecting people worldwide. PGP
encryption has since been installed on millions of machines, and has been
documented as a factor in several human rights victories, allowing activists
to exchange information without being persecuted by local authorities. After
the software's release, Zimmermann was investigated by the U.S. government for
over three years, accused of a Federal crime because the software had flowed
across international borders. The case was eventually dropped in 1996, and on
January 18th, 2000, Zimmermann finally saw the day when he could email his
software to associates worldwide.
"I have been waiting for this day since I first had the idea for simple
encryption software that would help people communicate securely," said
Phil Zimmermann, a Senior Fellow of the PGP Security business unit of Network
Associates. "U.S. citizens should have the ability to exchange information
freely and securely with the rest of the world, and finally it's become legal
to share tools and ideas on a global scale."
About PGP Security
In 1991, PGP technology began life as Pretty Good Privacy software,
designed to help people use strong encryption to secure computer data. Today,
PGP Security helps companies worldwide secure their e-business operations
through firewall, encryption, intrusion detection, risk assessment and VPN
technologies. A Network Associates company, PGP Security includes several of
the industry's most well-known security brands, including Gauntlet firewall,
PGP Data Security, CyberCop Scanner and Monitor, and WebShield E-ppliances.
For more information and software evaluations, visit http://www.pgp.com.
About Network Associates
With headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Network Associates, Inc. is a
leading supplier of enterprise network security and management software.
Network Associates' Net Tools Secure and Net Tools Manager offer
best-of-breed, suite-based network security and management software. Net
Tools Secure and Net Tools Manager suites combine to create Net Tools
solutions that centralizes these point solutions within an easy-to-use,
integrated systems management environment. For more information, Network
Associates can be reached at 972-308-9960 or on the Internet at
http://www.nai.com
NOTE: Network Associates, PGP, Pretty Good Privacy, Gauntlet, CyberCop,
WebShield and Net Tools are registered Trademarks of Network Associates, Inc.
and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other
registered and unregistered trademarks in this document are the sole property
of their respective owners.
SOURCE Network Associates, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.nai.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991104/NETALOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/128095.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 128095
CONTACT:
Tony Welz of Network Associates, Inc.,
408-346-3021; or Cabe Franklin of Porter Novelli Convergence
Group, 415-975-2223, for Network Associates, Inc.
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