Lotus Is Shipping More Secure International Edition of Notes Release 4

Ozzie Outlines New Feature At RSA Data Security Conference

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17, 1996 -- Lotus Development Corp. today announced that the International Edition of Lotus Notes Release 4 is shipping with 64-bit encryption, providing users significantly greater protection against adversaries than previous international versions of the product.
Ray Ozzie, president of Iris Associates, the developer of Lotus Notes, informed an audience at the RSA Data Security Conference here today that Notes Release 4, which began shipping this month, utilizes a new method of security called "differential workfactor cryptography." This new method allows the International Edition of Notes to use an encryption key equal in strength to the 64-bit key in the North American Edition, without the use of "key escrow" technologies. Lotus' unique encryption technique significantly increases international customers' information security, while neither increasing nor decreasing government access to encrypted information as compared to previously exported releases of Lotus Notes.
Ozzie explained that in the International Edition of Lotus Notes Release 4, whenever an encrypted 64-bit bulk data key is generated by the product, it is bound to a "workfactor reduction field," giving the U.S. government exclusive access to 24 of the 64 bits. When using the North American Edition of Lotus Notes within the U.S. and Canada, however, full 64-bit encryption is employed without the "workfactor reduction field." The two editions of Notes are fully interoperable.
"We are very pleased to have arrived at a pragmatic short-term solution that addresses our international customers' requests for greater security within Notes," Ozzie said. "However, we continue to argue vigorously that, due to clear and present threats to our global information systems, all interests would be well served by widespread use of strong, high-grade cryptography. Without substantial rethinking of U.S. cryptography policy, particularly as it pertains to export controls, our global and national economic security is at risk."
Lotus has used cryptography to provide many of the security features found in Lotus Notes. When Notes first shipped in December 1989, Lotus pioneered the use of both public key and exportable secret key algorithms in commodity products. Lotus has been one of the major forces in the industry's drive for global economic security, arguing for liberalized export restrictions on high-quality secure information systems.
Lotus Notes Release 4 will support 16 platforms and 20 languages. French, German, International English, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese will ship simultaneously with the U.S. versions. Brazilian, Portuguese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French Canadian, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish and Swedish will ship within 90 days.
Lotus Notes is the leading client-server platform for developing and deploying strategic groupware applications that help organizations communicate, collaborate and coordinate strategic business processes within and beyond their organizational boundaries to achieve improved business results. More than 7,000 companies and 3.3 million people use Notes to improve key business processes such as customer service, sales and account management, and product development. Lotus Notes supports all major operating systems: IBM OS/2 Warp, Apple Mac OS, UNIX platforms including IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, and SCO OpenServer, and Microsoft Windows and Windows NT. Notes is also available as a NetWare loadable module for the Novell environment.
Lotus Development Corp., a subsidiary of IBM Corp., offers high quality software products and support services that reflect the company's unique understanding of the new ways in which individuals and businesses must work together to achieve success. Lotus' innovative approach is evident in a new class of applications that allows information to be accessed and communicated in ways never before possible, both within and beyond organizational boundaries. The company also provides numerous support services, both from its consulting division and its award-winning 24-hour support center.

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