New Parental Control Gateway from ZyXEL Provides Easy Solution for Safe Home Internet Surfing

Business Wire, June 30, 2004

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- HomeSafe Gateway Enables Parents to Customize Internet Access, Block Objectionable Material and Manage Access to Internet Applications

ZyXEL Communications Inc., a leading provider of broadband access solutions, has announced wired and wireless models of its HomeSafe Parental Control Gateway (HS-100 & HS-100W), first-of-their-kind home networking solutions that combine Internet sharing, firewall protection, optional wireless connectivity, and the most advanced parental control capabilities available today. Unlike parental control services that are configured through complicated independent software applications, HomeSafe's advanced parental control features are easily managed and enforced at the gateway.

ZyXEL's HomeSafe gateways provide households with secure broadband Internet access, traffic management, and parental control functionality through a single, cost-effective point of control for all PCs on the network. Access to websites and other online content such as Internet-based games, music file-sharing, images, video, and email are controlled through the gateway. HomeSafe's unprecedented feature set includes:

--Subject-based content filtering to block objectionable websites

--Free content filtering trial subscription

--Email notification of when a user attempts to access an inappropriate site

--Configurable time/day limits on Internet access, chat, instant messaging, online gaming and other activities

--Unique user profiles for each family member

--Intuitive and easy-to-use configuration wizards

"We're thrilled to launch this comprehensive consumer solution that combines extended parental control features with ZyXEL's secure, reliable and proven wireless Internet sharing technology. The HomeSafe gateway has been designed especially for parents who are concerned with managing their children's Internet access privileges," said Munira Brooks, senior vice president of sales, marketing and business development, ZyXEL.

The HomeSafe Parental Control Gateway enables parents to create customized profiles for each individual family member based on such innovative features as time management and time allowance. HomeSafe's time management feature allows parents to establish time-of-day parameters, during which the Internet may be accessed, while time allowance enables parents to set the total amount of Internet access time allowed within one day. Ideal for young and mature teen users, the time management and time allowance features enable parents to give their children age-appropriate freedom under a suitable usage budget.

"We all realize the tremendous value of the Internet as a knowledge tool that furthers our children's learning interests, but many parents, including myself, have been torn about providing unlimited and unrestrained access because of all the potential dangers that exist on the Internet -- from questionable content to predators. Now we can guide our children's Internet use through ZyXEL's HomeSafe Gateway," added Brooks.

Integrated Content Filtering, Firewall, Routing and Networking Capabilities Enable Protection and Management of the Home Network

HomeSafe's content filtering features are offered as a subscription service; all other parental control features are available without any recurring fees.

A single easy-to-use Web-based management interface enables account management for all users, which parents can remotely access via the Internet. Unlike software-based solutions, HomeSafe is operating system-independent and delivers the same level of parental control to PCs and PDAs running any OS.

Before a user is allowed Internet access through the family network, he or she is required to log onto the HomeSafe system by simply opening a web browser. HomeSafe then redirects the user's browser to the system's login screen where a valid username and password must be entered to begin the customized Internet access session. Once a user is logged in, he or she is subject to the access rules assigned to his or her login account rather than other standard PC access controls, providing an added level of security.

HomeSafe operates separately from standard PCs, making it less likely to be hacked or circumvented. Access to the gateway is password protected and alerts are given to administrators/parents if attempts to bypass the system occur. Such attempts include unplugging the HomeSafe box or turning off the power.

Both models of the ZyXEL HomeSafe Parental Control Gateway feature integrated 4-port 10/100Mbps switch, Internet-sharing NAT router, stateful packet inspection firewall and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). In addition, the HomeSafe 100W supports 802.11g and 802.11b wireless standards and incorporates an extensive range of wireless security features, such as WPA, 802.1x user authentication, and MAC address filtering to prevent data from being viewed by unauthorized users during wireless transmission. As an advantage, the HomeSafe firewall offers real-time alerts, reports and logs for secure and efficient network management.