PKWARE Announces Security-Enabled PKZIP 5.0

Business Wire, July 16, 2002

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

New PKZIP 5.0 Now Offers Strong Encryption of .ZIP Files,

Multiple Levels of Security

PKWARE, Inc., the leader in secure data compression, today announced PKZIP(R) 5.0, the only data compression software that uses the new extended .ZIP file format introduced by PKWARE to provide both certificate-based and traditional password-based encryption and authentication. Additionally, this latest version of PKWARE's award-winning data compression application incorporates strong encryption algorithms (up to 3 DES 168-bit encryption) to deliver an even greater level of security than has previously been available. With the release of PKZIP 5.0, PKWARE addresses the pressing need for advanced data security capabilities across enterprises, government organizations, developers and individual users who employ data compression technology to compress, store and transfer data and applications by significantly increasing the ease and extent to which they can digitally sign and encrypt their files.

PKZIP 5.0 provides an easy-to-use solution that is affordable, accessible and requires no custom application development or specialized technical resources. PKZIP 5.0 integrates support for standard X.509 v3 digital certificates with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to sign and encrypt compressed files. When an individual compresses a file, PKZIP gives the user a choice of assigning a password and/or a digital certificate (when available) to encrypt the files. The user may also choose to digitally sign every file in a .ZIP file archive. In essence, PKZIP turns a traditional .ZIP file into a secure .ZIP file for the purpose of storage or transmission. There is minimal overhead because while PKWARE is compressing a package of files, it is also simultaneously applying access control (with passwords) and security (with encryption). PKZIP 5.0 also offers integration with Microsoft Outlook to seamlessly provide automatic compression, digital signing and encryption of files that are attachments to email messages.

".ZIP is among the most widely used technologies in the world," said Charles Kolodgy, Research Manager, Internet Security for IDC. "By offering support for digital signatures and various levels of encryption, PKWARE is reducing the complexity and increasing the accessibility required for file security. PKZIP and other .ZIP software products are commonly used as electronic envelopes for a myriad of file types. Now, it is possible to easily secure those electronic envelopes. Also, since encryption always causes an increase in file size, .ZIP compression prior to encryption will require less storage space for secured files and less bandwidth for secure file transmission."

The De Facto Standard

.ZIP compression technology is the de facto method for storing and exchanging large data files. Now, the same technology that simplifies the storage and transmission of data files can also be used to secure them, regardless of what level of authentication a user or organization chooses to apply to their documents. The transmission of multi-megabyte files is often slow, and some carriers, ISPs and corporate network operators routinely prohibit the transmission of large attachments. Because .ZIP solves the data-size issue, it has become the industry standard for compressing files. Moving forward, compressing files will be only one reason to implement .ZIP technology; authentication and security will be equally important. The millions of users that already employ .ZIP will be compelled to use that same software and familiar graphical interface to also secure their files while compressing them.

"Millions of users around the world rely on the .ZIP format to store and exchange data. As the creator of the .ZIP format, PKWARE is committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of users," said Tim Kennedy, president and chief operating officer for PKWARE, Inc. "PKZIP 5.0 enables .ZIP users to achieve more failsafe modes of communication than were previously possible. Users can elect to wrap .ZIP contents in electronic containers or envelopes which can be digitally signed and encrypted using strong encryption of up to 168-bits. Recipients can then use .ZIP to apply their passwords, certificates or digital signatures to open those files."

Meeting Data Security Needs - From Basic to Advanced

PKZIP 5.0 offers a tiered product family that is designed to provide users with a choice of compression coupled with either basic security functions or with more advanced, multi-level security capabilities. PKZIP 5.0 Standard Edition is designed for traditional zipping and unzipping with basic levels of security and offers ease of use and quality data compression at a competitive price. PKZIP 5.0 Professional offers quality data compression together with support for multiple levels of security as well as automatic compression, digital signing and encryption for Microsoft Outlook users. Organizations may use PKZIP 5.0 Professional to leverage their investments in PKI, but PKI is not required in order to realize the benefits of the other security capabilities that are supported in the product.