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SPYRUS Media Contact:
Madison Alexander PR
Dan Chmielewski Phone: (714) 832-8716 or (949) 231-2965 (mobile)
dchm@madisonalexanderpr.com
SPYRUS Rosetta Smart Cards Pass Windows Vista Certification Pilot
SPYRUS High-Assurance Security Devices Provide Unique Support for Windows Vista Suite B Cryptographic Capabilities
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San Jose, California, April 23, 2007 – (BUSINESS WIRE) – SPYRUS, Inc., an innovator in portable high-security hardware and software cryptography products, today announced that the SPYRUS® Rosetta Smart Card Series II successfully completed the pilot of the Microsoft Windows Vista Smart Card Framework logo program. Rosetta Smart Card Series II is the only smart card that supports Suite B, a set of advanced, unclassified cryptographic algorithms approved by the National Security Agency (NSA) to protect U. S. Government classified and unclassified data.
SPYRUS worked with the Microsoft Smart Card Certification Center in Ireland and a small group of vendors on the pilot for the Windows Smart Card Framework logo program, to validate Windows Vista logo program requirements for smart card minidrivers. Card minidrivers that pass the Windows Smart Card Framework logo program can be downloaded directly through Windows Update.
Windows Vista implements a next-generation cryptographic infrastructure, including support for elliptic curve cryptography and other Suite B algorithms. Suite B algorithms include Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with NIST prime elliptic curves, Advanced Encryption Standard, and the SHA-2 series of hash functions, as defined by the National Security Agency. In addition to these, Rosetta Smart Cards include support for ECC with P-521 keys and SHA-512 that exceeds Suite B standards. Rosetta Smart Cards also fully support applications using traditional algorithms such as RSA and SHA-1. In combination with Windows Vista, Rosetta Smart Cards now also make it possible to take full advantage of Suite B-enabled applications such as Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 encrypted email and digital signatures.
“The introduction of Cryptography API: Next Generation in Windows Vista signifies the importance we see in Elliptic Curve Cryptography and Suite B algorithms,” said David B. Cross, director of program management for Windows Security at Microsoft Corp. “We are pleased that the SPYRUS Rosetta Smart Card, with its support for CNG, successfully completed our certification pilot.”
Rosetta Smart Cards use the multi-application SPYRUS Card Operating System (SPYCOS®). SPYCOS supports more cryptographic algorithms than any other commercial product and dynamically allocates non-volatile memory. A unique feature bounds the memory space dedicated to simultaneously running applications with a data “firewall” to ensure total isolation and security during processing. A sophisticated on-card key management system and advanced random number generation technology provide the strongest hardware-based encryption and security for application and personal identity keys in a commercially available device. These and other features make SPYCOS the most secure and reliable card operating system for applications with advanced security requirements.
The release of Windows Vista signals a dramatic change in support for hardware security devices such as smart cards for personal identity applications. U.S. Homeland Security mandates identity smart cards as part of its Personal Identification Vehicle (PIV) program, and smart cards are increasingly used in government and commercial organizations for both personal identification and facility access.
“SPYRUS and Microsoft have had a long-standing strategic relationship to provide security assurance for government and enterprise customers,” said Tom Dickens, SPYRUS Chief Operating Officer. “We build our products to provide the strongest assurance for today’s applications, and they are ready now to do the same for tomorrow’s Suite B-enabled applications. The SPYCOS operating system used in the Rosetta Smart Card is the same one that controls the Rosetta USB security device, Hydra Privacy Card® Series II, Rosetta SD, and other advanced security devices from SPYRUS. The combination of our acclaimed high-assurance products and Microsoft support for advanced security helps reassure enterprise customers that their keys and data will be protected.”
About SPYRUS, Inc.
SPYRUS, Inc., a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, has pioneered portable security products and solutions for the information security market since its inception in 1992. Our primary product lines of LYNKS Hardware Security Modules, Rosetta smart cards and USB security devices, Hydra Privacy Card® Series II encryption and mass storage, and identity management products (Signal Identity Manager™ and SPYRUS PKI) meet customer needs for high-assurance security. Our mission is to set the standard for the new era of multinational information sharing and long-term data protection. SPYRUS, Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, CA. See www.spyrus.com for further information.
SPYRUS, Rosetta, Hydra Privacy Card, SPYCOS, LYNKS, and Signal Identity Manager are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SPYRUS, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other jurisdictions. All other company, organization and product names are trademarks of their respective organizations.
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