California-based cybercrime prevention solution provider ThreatMetrix has acquired Australian-based TrustDefender, a provider of secure browsing technology designed to stop man-in-the-browser attacks and provide malware protection.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Multicard, a unit of Identive Group that supplies credential, identity management and system integration services, has signed a contract with global consumer products company Henkel to provide a global multi-function identity credential service card to Henkel employees.

Multicard will employ its contactless smart card single ID credential to provide building access, time and attendance tracking, payment services in employee cafeterias and PKI applications for network access. 

AuthenTec announced the acquisition of all the assets of Proxure, which includes intellectual property and software products relating to their syncing and cloud-based storage services.

Among the products owned by AuthenTec is Proxure’s KeepVault backup software and KeepSync, which synchronizes a user’s identity across multiple devices. Both will be offered by AuthenTec with plans to incorporate the software into other products in the future. 

In the past, the term “credential” was used solely to refer to a dedicated physical entity that intertwined an individual’s identity with a specific entitlement, for example a passport or driver’s license.

We’ve all witnessed the progression over the last decade or so, however, towards trusted identities that are separated out and used to access many different entitlements.Such trusted identities are typically manifested either as a secured version of the physical credential – the smart card – or as an online digital “persona.” To a degree, these techniques traditionally supported either end of the levels of authentication range.

However, the definition and certification of trust frameworks and the desire of users to use their own smart phones to access online and physical services has led to a much broader range of form factors that are being considered to support trusted identities. We believe that this trend will continue throughout 2012 and that the evolution of form factors will re-shape what we have traditionally defined as a “credential.” 

Hirsch Identive announced that its Velocity Access Control and Security Management software has been tested and verified to be compliant with the IF-MAP computing standard by the international industry standards organization, Trusted Computing Group.

IF-MAP is a standard computing protocol that supports dynamic data interchange among a variety of IT networking components. By becoming IF-MAP compliant, Hirsch Identive’s systems can now enable organizations to implement integrated security systems alongside IT networks. 

Fraud prevention, authentication and transaction verification provider has joined “Get Safe Online,” a UK initiative that promotes safe and secure Internet use.

The program is a venture between the UK government, law enforcement, private enterprise and the public and aims to give free advice to individuals and small businesses to build their awareness and show them the tools for proper Internet safety and security. 

In a new patent application by Apple, the company appears to be looking to incorporate user face recognition via front-facing cameras on its devices, according to an Apple Insider article.

The filing points to possible solution for enabling multiple users access to the same device, such as an iPad, and have the device automatically alter settings, features and applications to the preferences of each specific user.