This is a copy of the C2Net Press Release from 12 Jan 1998

Customers of these banks are using C2Net's SafePassage Web Proxy in order to securely connect to the Stronghold Web Server or the Stronghold Crypto Engine running on the banks' servers. Using the secure link to their bank, customers can transfer funds, make payments, and check account balances without fear that an economic terrorist or other interloper will be able to rob them.

"As more companies are putting sensitive applications on the Internet, there is a growing awareness of the significant security issues inherent in Internet applications," said Steve Cook, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for C2Net Software, Inc. "Using C2Net products which are developed outside the US, these banks are making it clear to the world that it is possible to deploy secure applications internationally despite US government export restrictions on such technology."

"We have made it clear over the past few years that the US government's absurd cryptography policy has not made it difficult to deploy secure solutions internationally," said Sameer Parekh, President and Founder of C2Net. "There is no reasonable basis to deny people outside the United States access to the same full-strength encryption security enjoyed by their US counterparts. We are pleased to support these banks' efforts to provide such security to their customers," he said.

C2Net's SafePassage Web Proxy product upgrades the security of any SSL-capable web browser, even those which are encryption-crippled as required for export from the US. By acting as a proxy on the user's personal computer, SafePassage Web Proxy, not the web browser itself, makes the actual connection to the remote web server. In this way, users obtain the peace of mind they need for conducting serious business on the Internet.

C2Net's Stronghold secure web server is now the most popular secure web server on the Internet. Based on Apache, the world's most popular non-encrypting web server, Stronghold provides customers with full strength security, high-quality documentation, and world-class technical support, among other improvements.

The new Stronghold Crypto Engine from C2Net replaces the cryptography core of the Microsoft Internet Information Server with the same cryptography engine used in the Stronghold web server. The Stronghold Crypto Engine gives customers the ability to support full strength encryption worldwide while using Microsoft IIS as the underlying web server. Therefore, customers who are limited to running their web sites with Microsoft IIS are now able to have the same strong security and authentication common to all C2Net products.

C2Net Software, Inc. (http://www.c2.net/) is the leading provider of uncompromised network security software. Through its international offshore development programs, all C2Net products are exempt from U.S. government export restrictions, allowing the company to offer uncrippled, strong cryptography solutions to customers worldwide.