Zero-Knowledge Systems Introduces Security and Privacy Tool Suite

Zero-Knowledge Systems introduced a new suite of security tools under its Freedom software series. The Freedom Security and Privacy Suite includes Freedom Personal Firewall 3.1, Freedom Parental Control 3.1, and Freedom Privacy Protection 3.1.

Freedom Personal Firewall includes application-level control that gives Internet access only to trusted applications and warns the user if untrusted applications attempt access. The firewall also lets a user devise customizable rules to access through specific ports and includes an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that operates in the background. The IDS warns the user if someone makes an unauthorized attempt to access the system and guards against nuisances such a Trojan horses.

Freedom Parental Control is a content-filtering tool that protects children from accessing inappropriate material. Users can configure the tool with categorizes of sites that might contain unwanted content such as sex, violence, drugs, and gambling. The softweare includes an automatic update feature that helps a user obtain the latest list of blocked and categorized sites.

Freedom Privacy Protection helps prevent a user from inadvertently divulging personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit card information while visiting Web sites, using online chat systems, or sending email. The tool offers password protection that stores, encrypts, and manages personal logon information by keeping an unauthorized user from viewing or changing that information.

The Freedom Security and Privacy Suite also includes four other tools: Filler/Password Manager, Cookie Manager, Ad Blocker, and Keyword Alert. The Filler/Password Manager tool helps a user to securely store site logon information and expedites the site logon process. Cookie Manager lets a user control which cookies the system stores and offers a one-step process to eliminate unwanted cookies. With Ad Blocker, a user can block unwanted advertisements and protect against activity-tracking Web bugs that might accompany an ad. The Keyword Alert tool scans outbound communications for sensitive information, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit card information and ensures that the system never transmits such information.

The Freedom Security and Privacy Suite runs on Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows 98. The subscription-based suite is priced at $49.95 for a 1-year subscription. The Freedom Personal Firewall and Freedom Parental Control are also available separately for $29.95 for a 1-year subscription. For additional information, visit the Zero-Knowledge Systems Web site.