Cool enterprise security developments at Macworld Expo

Charismathics. In the shadow of the Apple booth, Charismathics demonstrated its Smart Security Interface middleware for smart card authentication as well as a beta iPhone version of iEnigma, a PKI token-based identity and security solution for the iPhone and iPod Touch due for launch in March at the CeBIT show in Germany.

The forthcoming app, priced between $5 and $10, will enable 2-factor authentication letting users sign and encrypt Mac sent from the iPhone.

The app will take advantage of the iPhone interface — for example, users will shake the handheld to generate a key. The authentication will integrate with Mail and Safari, the company said.

MXI Security. In its first Expo booth, MXI Security showed Mac support for some its 3-factor authentication portable storage devices: the Stealth MXP USB key drive and the Outbacker MXP 2.5-inch drive.

The devices incorporate a biometric fingerprint reader and provide hardware 256-bit AES encryption. The USB flash keys are available in capacities of 512MB to 16GB; the hard drives range from 80GB to 320GB.

CEO Lawrence Reusing demonstrated the MXI Security Access Enterprise software console that manages the products. Up to 5 users can be assigned fingerprint authentication for each device, with 2 fingerprints per person. In addition, the software permits managers to create a long, rescue password just in case of trouble.