Query re PR Newswire - Age Verification Technology

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

To:  
dave () farber net

Date:  
Tue, 08 Feb 2005 08:35:41 -0500

From:  
"Lin, Herb" <HLin () nas edu> 

Subject:  
PR Newswire - Age Verification Technology


 For IP

 Anyone know anything about these guys (i-mature.net)?  I've tried
 without success to learn something about their technology.  What's the
 nature of the RSA connection?

 Thoughts?

 Herb Lin

 Senior Scientist

 National Research Council

 (views expressed are my own, not those of the NRC)



 ==


 RSA Security and i-Mature Partner on Next-Generation Biometric
 Technology to Further Protect Children on the Internet
                    
   Age Recognition Combined With Leading Security Solutions Could
 Restrict 
                 Unsuitable Content, Ensure Appropriate Access

 BEDFORD, Mass., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RSA Security Inc.
 (Nasdaq: RSAS) today announced a joint research collaboration with
 i-Mature(TM) to bring RSA Security's cryptographic expertise into the
 security architecture of i-Mature's innovative Age-Group Recognition
 (AGR) technology, and to explore the integration of that technology with
 user authentication systems.

 The partnership will work towards a unique solution that would genuinely
 improve the safety of the Internet for children, by enabling both adult
 and children's sites to restrict their content more reliably to their
 appropriate audience.

 i-Mature has developed an innovative technology that can determine,
 through a simple biometric bone-scanning test, whether a user is a child
 or an adult -- and thereby control access to Internet sites and content.
 AGR technology could help prevent children from accessing adult Internet
 sites and prevents adults from accessing children's sites and chat
 rooms.

 "i-Mature's solution provides a means of guaranteeing the identity and
 age of young Internet users today, in contrast to other solutions
 available which can exacerbate the problem," comments Burt Kaliski, vice
 president of research and chief scientist at RSA Laboratories. "With
 AGR, the burden of administration would be removed altogether, and the
 credential could not be abused if lost, borrowed or stolen."

 User authentication would play a complementary role, as it enables a
 site to provide access to resources only to authorized users.  The RSA
 SecurID(R) solution is the world's leading two-factor user
 authentication system, relied on by thousands of organizations worldwide
 to protect and manage identities and information access.  It functions
 like an ATM card: users must identify themselves with two unique
 factors-something they know, and something they have-before they are
 granted access.  Millions of people around the world confidently use RSA
 Security's user authentication solution to securely access corporate and
 individual assets.

 "Validating the identities of Internet users is never more important
 than when it applies to our children.  I salute this concept and the
 work that RSA Security and i-Mature are leading to reduce the likelihood
 that age-specific authentication would be compromised," said Howard
 Schmidt, former cyber-security advisor to the White House.  "This is a
 great way of leveraging the power of biometrics in a simple, appropriate
 manner that will give confidence to parents, content providers and all
 Internet users." 

 The integration of i-Mature and RSA Security's leading technologies
 would deliver the following benefits to both children and concerned
 adults:

 -- Unique combination of technologies verifying that the person
 accessing 
       the age-appropriate site is in fact who they claim to be

 -- Age-specific authentication that can not be transferred - and which
       removes the danger of users being mis-enrolled

 -- Data privacy through the integration of RSA Security's
 industry-leading 
       cryptographic solutions

 AGR is not limited to certain chat rooms but is open to any site that
 has chosen to install the solution.  It is further differentiated from
 existing technologies by the fact that it performs a true age group
 verification online, in real time, does not need or maintain a
 pre-installed database or list of users, and the biometric test results
 are not stored anywhere -- meaning that users' privacy cannot be
 compromised.

 "The Internet can be an exciting, fun and educational environment for
 both adults and children, but the risks involved are well known.  Our
 youth should feel confident that when they enter a chat room, everyone
 logged in will be whom they say they are and of an appropriate age,"
 continues Dr. Kaliski.

 "RSA Security and i-Mature will explore together a simple, secure and
 responsible solution that would provide for the safety of our children
 on the Internet without imposing on third-parties or our over-stretched
 education system."

     
 "Today's youth is an Internet-savvy group.  They grew up with the
 technology and often are found to be surfing the net freely without
 adult supervision.  Unfortunately, the Internet also provides an outlet
 for malicious and unsafe behavior," said Mr. Shmuel Levin, founder and
 CEO at i-Mature.  "i-Mature is pleased to partner with the leader in
 protecting and managing identities, RSA Security.  Both organizations
 recognize the safety concerns associated with using the Internet and
 look forward to collaborating on a solution that will empower children
 to protect themselves from inappropriate web content and online
 predators."

 The collaboration will include joint research as well as joint marketing
 activities around age-group recognition, including market education and
 engagement with government policy makers.

 About i-Mature 
 i-Mature is a privately held, Israeli company, established in 2002.  It
 has developed the Age-Group Recognition (AGR) Security System, an
 innovative, generic, biometric technology, based on a new physiological
 feature.  AGR can distinguish between children and adults via a simple
 test, thus providing an important security solution for controlling
 access to the Internet.  AGR enables the establishment of a new category
 of Biometrics devices and access control solutions for a large range of
 applications.  AGR can be used at home, schools, wireless LAN locations,
 libraries, Internet cafis, airports and more.

 The protection and safety of children is also required outside the
 Internet arena. The AGR system complies with this since it is also
 compatible with mobile phones, television, video and DVD systems that
 can use AGR technology to prevent children from viewing harmful content.
 i-Mature can also partner with developers of computer games, online
 games and video games to block extremely violent and un-educational
 materials.  For more information please visit http://www.i-mature.net.

 About RSA Security Inc.
 RSA Security Inc. helps organizations protect private information and
 manage the identities of people and applications accessing and
 exchanging that information. RSA Security's portfolio of solutions --
 including identity & access management, secure mobile & remote access,
 secure enterprise access, secure transactions and consumer identity
 protection -- are all designed to provide the most seamless e-security
 experience in the market. Our strong reputation is built on our history
 of ingenuity, leadership, proven technologies and our more than 17,000
 customers around the globe. Together with more than 1,000 technology and
 integration partners, RSA Security inspires confidence in everyone to
 experience the power and promise of the Internet. For more information,
 please visit http://www.rsasecurity.com.

 RSA and SecurID are either registered trademarks or trademarks of RSA
 Security Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other
 products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective
 companies.

     For more information:
     Roger Fortier or Sara Eisenberg          Matthew Buckley
     McGrath/Power Public Relations          RSA Security Inc.
     (408) 727-0351                          (781) 515-6212
     rogerf () mcgrathpower com                  mbuckley () rsasecurity com
     sarae () mcgrathpower com

     Uri Levin 
     i-Mature - Online Age Recognition Systems
       (972) 3-9647198
     urile () i-mature net



 SOURCE RSA Security Inc.
 Web Site: http://www.rsasecurity.com http://www.i-mature.net






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