AuthenWare Partners with Juniper Networks

This morning we announced an important partnership that will help strengthen security for the millions of Juniper Networks users that access systems remotely. If you are a Juniper customer, you will be pleased to learn that AuthenWare is now certified by Juniper Networks!

AuthenWare joined Juniper’s Technology Alliance Program and released AuthenWare for Juniper, which delivers tokenless second-factor authentication for SA Series SSL VPN Appliances. This new product is the latest in our line of integrations to leading SSL VPN (e.g., AuthenWare for Citrix) and Identity Access Management technologies (e.g., CA-SiteMinder, Oracle Adaptive Access Manager) to eliminate the single point of failure normally associated with such tools.

The zero-footprint AuthenWare for Juniper software incorporates our same innovative keystroke dynamics technology to create a unique personal security pattern that is evaluated after a Juniper SSL VPN user enters their credentials. In the past, anyone that enters a valid set of credentials into the Juniper system would be admitted. But AuthenWare adds an additional layer of protection that checks whether those credentials are actually being typed by the authorized user or an impostor. In short, only if the security pattern matches will an authorized user be permitted to gain entry into the system, regardless of whether the credentials being entered are valid. In this way, the software protects against hackers and password sharers alike.

AuthenWare for Juniper is our latest strong security offering designed to stop identity theft, web fraud and system vulnerability. To learn more, see a demo or to get pricing for your company, contact us.

AP Article – Cyberthieves still rely on human foot soldiers

By Wayne R. Snell – VP of Marketing

Here we go again. The Associated Press reported that computer hackers phished userids, passwords and account numbers and used them to gain access to a number of corporate bank accounts. This particular ring stole over $70M before getting caught. And most of the money is long gone.

This article is right on the heels of the New York Times article I referred to last week. What drives all of us nuts here at AuthenWare is how simple the solution can be for companies – our software will stop these lowlife pond-scum from stealing your hard-earned money. Cold!

If you have AuthenWare installed, it will stop hackers from using stolen credentials and bank account information. It does this by comparing the typing pattern of authorized users and recognizes that the hacker is not a legitimate user. It also knows if a computer is automatically replaying a sign-on attempt as well. In effect, it renders the theft of those credentials completely useless, and protects your money. And we cost a fraction of the price of the losses most companies’ experience.

To me, AuthenWare is a software-based insurance policy that all companies simply cannot afford to pass up!

 

NY Times Article – the Great Cyberheist

I just read a very gripping (and sobering) account of a massive identity theft ring. The story details Albert Gonzalez’ 5+ year stint as a hacker and cyber-criminal and was published in the New York Times last week. The story is incredulous  – Gonzalez was caught using stolen ATM cards back in 2003 and turned Federal witness only to become a “double agent” and run an even larger scheme until he was caught in 2008.

I encourage you to read the entire story here. But what prompted me to write this was not the story itself, but rather the fact that so many companies were impacted – names we all know. The extent of the theft will never be really known, but is at least $400 million (probably a lot more!) and very little of that money has been recovered.

I think that the most important lesson is that in today’s cybercrime environment companies must have a multi-layered approach towards securing their systems: multiple authentication factors, endpoint and operating system-level controls, etc.

As a security provider, AuthenWare can help stop the unauthorized access of credentials by rendering identity theft useless, and providing multi-factor authentication. And it complements all of your other layers – the more layers the better!

Come see us at Gartner’s Identity & Access Management Summit this week!

AuthenWare is a Platinum sponsor of Gartner’s Identity and Access Management Summit 2010. The three-day conference starts tomorrow (November 15) and is being held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, in San Diego, California.

If you are planning to be at the conference, please stop by and see us in the solution showcase at Booth #7, or come listen to yours truly as I present a 1 hour case study session on Tuesday, 11/16 from 10:45 – 11:45 am PT in the Grand Ballroom A. The topic of my talk will be “Achieving Strong Security & Access Management With Advanced Keystroke Dynamics For 2nd Factor Authentication.”

I’ll be sharing numerous customer examples during the talk. We hope to see you there!

 

A Chain is only as Strong as its WEAKEST LINK

By Ron W. Brittian – Chairman & CEO

There are several layers of protection required to implement effective information security in today’s “wired world”: device (computer, smart phone, etc), software, database, network, etc.  These are well documented across vendor literature, analyst reports and through-out the media.

One of the biggest vulnerabilities of information security is stolen passwords.  There are a myriad of ways to steal them (Google on “ways to steal passwords”), and many millions have already been stolen (Google the term “stolen passwords”:  3,150,000 results!).  And who knows how many millions more have been stolen that are “not known” or “not reported”?  Will YOU be next?

The problem is increasing exponentially:  proliferation of connectivity, smarter hackers, disgruntled employees, terrorism, etc.  Some quick numbers:

• 14 people hacked per second
• 1.5 Billion wired individuals (over 10 Passwords each)
• 1 Million new Facebook subscribers per day
• 34% of online banking transactions compromised
• 140+ Million records compromised already in 2010
• 28,940 different malicious software detected
• Employees source of 48% of corporate breaches
• Approx $1.4 Trillion damages to Global economy in 2009