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News Archive- 12 May 2005

PixAlert Enterprise Version 2.0 Software Suite Debuts

PixAlert Enterprise's Enhanced Features Protect Corporate PCs from Inappropriate, Illegal Images

 

Westford, Mass— PixAlert, the first software supplier to protect firms’ PCs from inappropriate and illegal images originating from any source, today introduced Version 2.0 of its flagship software offering, PixAlert^® Enterprise.

PixAlert 2.0 offers a number of enhancements, including a superior engine that improves the accuracy of image analyses to 95 percent or better.

The PixAlert Enterprise software suite is a unique image detection and analysis solution that provides active compliance to existing organizational policies on inappropriate and illegal content. PixAlert enables organizations to effectively manage employee computer use while reducing security and legal risks, improving IT resource management, and enhancing productivity.

Illegal or inappropriate images on corporate PCs can expose directors, management and employees to criminal and civil lawsuits. In fact, according to The Center for Internet Studies, more than 60 percent of companies have disciplined and more than 30 percent have terminated employees for inappropriate uses of the Internet.

PixAlert Enterprise uses patented technology to deliver a powerful multi-source image detection and analysis solution that provides comprehensive protection against inappropriate and illegal images originating from network entry points and PC add-ons. Such sources may include gateways, media, USB ports, 3G cellular and WiFi hotspots.

“The rapid proliferation of illegal and inappropriate image material on personal computers and computer networks is a growing problem for major corporations today and may lead to a civil or criminal legal action,” said John Nolan, PixAlert CEO. “As legislation and compliance for companies become more onerous, organizations are seeking solutions that, when combined with enhanced polices and practices, provide a useful and cost-effective solution. With our latest enhancements, PixAlert Enterprise 2.0 provides an even more powerful and accurate solution for organizations seeking to protect themselves.”

PixAlert Enterprise 2.0 enhancements:

• Improved accuracy of image analysis to 95 percent or better;

• Enhanced analysis engine now scans MS PowerPoint and Word files for embedded images;

• New Active Directory Integration enables customers to scan or monitor specific PCs at specified times based upon criteria such as location, department, etc.

• Advanced reporting capabilities provide the flexibly to create summary and detail reports using pie charts, graphs, etc. for MS Word documents;

• New content-rating Workflow addition to Auditor module enables administrators to rate and comment on images for reporting purposes so that organizations can better understand the severity of the problem;

• New Multi-Threaded Scanning added to Auditor enables customers to scan a group or groups of machines simultaneously to reduce the time it takes to identify problems;

• Addition of an E-mail Alert function to Monitor helps determine when emails are sent and notes the presence of potentially inappropriate images.

“We have been using PixAlert Enterprise for the last year,” said Christopher Buckley, Director of Information Services, Advocates Inc. “We have been very pleased with the results of implementing PixAlert Enterprise. It is easy to use and provides a safety net around our workplace, protecting our employees and organization from offensive materials. I am very excited that the new version is integrated with Active Directory. This is a major advancement.”

The PixAlert Enterprise software suite comprises two modules, which may be licensed together or individually:

PixAlert Monitor
PixAlert Monitor provides multi-source image detection and analysis. It resides on all corporate computer assets, watching screen activity for inappropriate or illegal image content. Regardless of the source, when an improper image is viewed, a record is created in a machine specific audit log and an immediate alert is sent to the administrator console. When an alert is received, the designated administrator, who can initiate appropriate action, can view an encrypted thumbnail representation of the image, along with the machine name, user name, date-time and the program used.

PixAlert Auditor
PixAlert Auditor provides stored image detection and analysis. It is deployed from a server, run locally on a suspect computer or can be deployed to scan multiple computers on a network. It carries out a full audit scan of the images stored on a corporate computer asset and ranks them on the basis of their inappropriateness. Suspect images, which transgress a pre-defined threshold, are encrypted and presented to the authorized administrator in a user-friendly gallery. The scan provides a full report on its findings and the administrator can add any inappropriate images found to a case file. PixAlert Auditor can also remove inappropriate images stored on computers.