Funk Software ships WanderLink Security Pack, add-on to WanderLink remote access software; Enhances WanderLink's built-in data encryption feature

Business Wire, Jan 17, 1996

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jan. 17, 1996--Funk Software this week began shipping the WanderLink Security Pack, an add-on to WanderLink that provides an extremely secure data encryption capability, so dial-in users can absolutely guarantee the privacy of their communications over phone lines.

WanderLink is file server-based remote access software that lets users connect over phone lines to a NetWare network. Once connected, they become nodes on the network with complete IPX and IP access to all of its resources.

Prior to the Security Pack, WanderLink shipped worldwide with the ability to enable RC4 Symmetric Stream Cipher data encryption with a 40-bit key, the maximum allowed under U.S. law for export. RC4 Stream Cipher encryption is licensed from RSA Data Security, Inc.

While a 40-bit key is more than satisfactory for many users - to break an encrypted message in a single day would require over 1,300 fast computers working in parallel - certain industries such as banking and governmental agencies require even more security.

The WanderLink Security Pack provides this additional security. With the WanderLink Security Pack, dial-in users can enable RC4 Stream Cipher encryption with a 120-bit key. Any message encoded in this manner is virtually unbreakable using today's technology. For even more security, WanderLink administrators can require that dial-in users enable the 120-bit encryption option before a connection is established. Because WanderLink also includes built-in data compression, so that encryption does not adversely affect the speed of the connection.

"Data does a lot of traveling between a network and a dial-in PC, and the possibilities for wiretaps over land lines or cellular connections are endless," said Cimarron Boozer, vice president of product marketing at Funk Software. "The WanderLink Security Pack allows government agencies or companies to guarantee the privacy of their communications over phone lines; it's really the ultimate safeguard against eavesdroppers."

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The WanderLink Security Pack, priced at $195 per server, is available immediately directly from Funk Software. The Security Pack is only available for shipment in the U.S. and Canada.

WanderLink is available directly from Funk Software, through Ingram Micro, Merisel, and Tech Data, or from major software resellers including Egghead, Software Spectrum, Stream International, and SoftMart.

Funk Software, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, develops add-on utilities for NetWare networks. In October 1992, the company began shipping AppMeter, a software usage metering program for Novell which allows companies to comply with software license agreements without over-buying. Proxy was released in January 1993, and lets Windows users take over and operate one or more PCs on the network at the same time, right from their own desktops. WanderLink is a high-performance remote access product that lets remote users dial in to a NetWare network and become a node on the network.

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RC4 Symmetric Stream Cipher is a trademark of RSA Data Security, Inc.

CONTACT: Janet Lill or Diane Rezendes

Funk Software, Inc. Rezendes & Radley Communications

(617) 497-6339 (617) 926-3277

http://www.funk.com