Security revolution in top gear

The security revolution is in top gear this week at the Comdex trade show, as new and improved products resourcefully related to security were showcased.

EDS has put together a combination of smartcard, biometrics technology, data management capabilities and industry-specific solutions that will help increase airport security, the company said.

EDS executives demonstrated solutions such as alerting authorities to potentially dangerous passengers buying a ticket, to biometrics technology to provide the means for passenger authentication and employee access by way of smartcards.

EDS chief executive Dick Brown told the IT industry it must take the lead in restoring the nation's trust in its institutions by protecting the assets driving today's digital economy forward.

During his keynote at Comdex, Brown said: "We are the protectors of today's currency: knowledge and information. We bolster trust by protecting those assets."

Security vendors said identification systems would soon be everywhere.

Siemens AG showcased its line of access control security products that include a mouse that reads fingerprints, to devices that combine the data from a person's biometrics.

Towitoko AG displayed a line of smartcard readers, which can be affixed to keyboards or the sides of monitors. While Iridian Technologies unveiled its new Panasonic Authenticam, which secures a desktop by scanning the user's iris.

The company also said it plans to update its current Entry Access device, a desk-mount or wall-mount unit for controlled access to buildings or rooms.

Elsewhere, vendors, such as Acer Multimedia and Communications and SecuGen, displayed PC keyboards and PC mice with thumbprint recognition devices.

RedHand Software displayed its Internal Network Security Manager, which can record every keystroke and action a user takes. It can also prevent users from visiting certain websites.

Handspring co-founder Jeff Hawkins identified improved security as a top concern in his keynote. "I don't think any of us is doing it correctly," he said.

According to Hawkins mobile devices of the future will be like a billion servers that are connected to the internet, and "the opportunities for creating havoc are really large."