WASHINGTON COMPUTER SECURITY START UP COMPANY PRIVA Priva Is Hoping It Has Key to Security (TechNews.com)By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 29, 2004; Page E05


For any method of computer security to be effective, it's got to be easy to learn and easy to use. That, at least, is Jeff Minushkin's theory, and he is hoping it will give his start-up company, Priva Technologies Inc., an edge in a competitive industry.

Minushkin is quick to admit there "are a lot of products out on the market," but he said Priva's main difference is that it combines several aspects of computer security into one system.

The company, established in 1999, spent the first 18 months of its existence developing a working model. After testing and revising the system, Priva began selling its technology late last year.

The company's product has two main components: a small device that attaches to a user's key chain and a security application that protects corporate networks. When users want to turn on their computers, cell phones or personal digital assistants, they first need to plug in their key chain device, which contains a small chip that is read by the computer. Only if the chip is verified will the computer boot up.

A thief could still gain access, however, if the computer and the key-chain device were both stolen, so Priva also added a biometric layer of security. The device verifies that the fingerprint of the user matches the one authorized for use.

Corporate clients even more skittish about theft and intrusion can also ask users to type in passwords before logging on to an internal system. Priva's technology manages all of these interactions on the network so that potential clients will not have to integrate products from different security vendors.

The company is first trying to sell its technology to corporations in the retail, health care and financial services markets. Minushkin says potential customers in each industry are now testing the technology.

continued.....