Luxand announced release of a free, downloadable version of its Blink! facial recognition software. The software provides as a biometric-based login service Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems via a user’s regular webcam. In addition to authenticating the individual accessing the computer, Blink! also takes and records a still image of each person trying to access the computer to help prevent unauthorized access, and touts the ability to correctly recognize stored faces despite poor lighting conditions or basic changes in a user’s look such as glasses or hair cuts.  

As part of a new partnership with RSA Secured Partner Program, Ping Identity has certified that their PingFederate technology is compatible with the RSA’s SecurID two-factor authentication solution. This collaboration will result in a comprehensive user-friendly solution to authenticate to a range of Cloud identity applications. 

CA Technologies announces the purchase of Arcot Systems Inc. in an all-cash transaction of $200 million. The authentication and fraud detection software company is said to prevent fraudulent transactions for close to a million online credit transactions daily.

It is the hope of CA to combine their CA SiteMinder portfolio with the Arcot technology and create a comprehensive preventative solution for their customers. 

Entrust Inc. has been selected to deploy its security solutions for Finland’s Population Register Centre. After implementing its Extended Access Control (EAC) e-passport solution more than two-years ago, Entrust has begun deployment of its Single Point of Contact (SPOC) infrastructure for e-passports.

This SPOC technology is the standard method for certificate management between countries for support of EAC-enabled e-passports, which enables a country like Finland, with this system, to communicate directly between SPOCs for international EAC certificate requests and responses. 

The August meeting of the influential Government Smart Card Interagency Advisory Board (IAB) was recently held in Washington D.C. FIPS201.com was on hand to cover the event and has provided, as a service to the IAB and the smart card community, an audio recording of the presentations. Click on the link below to access a list of audio and accompanying PowerPoint slides (in pdf format).

Visit FIPS201.com to hear the presentations and view the slides.  

Investment needed to improve logical, physical infrastructure

by Salvatore D’Agostino, IDmachines

The identity, credentialing and access management effort on the part of the CIO Council is a next step to realize the goals of HSPD-12. It takes FIPS 201 technology and policy and applies procedures to the identity, credential and access categories, hence management. Not coincidentally, in parallel, are President Obama’s National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace and the Department of Commerce’s efforts on innovation in cybersecurity, innovation and Internet policy.

The federal Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM) part B work by the CIO Council is coming—maybe as soon as this fall—along with a revamp of the Federal PKI. The council has reached out to industry where a good dialog is taking place. 

A new Entrust mobile study reveals the need for effective security solutions in mobile phones is greater than ever. According to the data, most mobile applications have a limited functionality when it comes to overall security.

In recent years many organizations, businesses and financial institutions have been adopting mobile apps to streamline online transactions and offer more services to their customers.