UK firm first to tap US-class Net security

A UK company has been granted the rights to use US-style encryption security in European Net commerce installations. The US Department of Commerce said UK-based network security specialist Internet Smartware is the first company to be authorised to use 56-bit DES encryption technology and not require client companies to hand over access to data to government bodies.

"Today's announcement is exactly what we have been waiting for and will be welcome news to the numerous European companies waiting to roll out secure Internet commerce services," said Stefan Jonsson, senior consultant for Sweden Post.

"The problems with providing effective encryption technologies, particularly for international markets, have been mainly political rather than technical, and have resulted from the US government's reluctance to allow the export of commercially acceptable encryption technologies," said Peter Cox, European managing director at Internet SmartWare. Those restrictions have now been relaxed for products that comply with new guidelines, Cox added.

Internet Smartware can be contacted by telephone on 0181-574 9545.