Check Point Plans Enterprise-Style Security For The Home

Written by Adam Gosling

Thursday, 09 November 2006

Security specialist Check Point Software Technologies, owners of the ZoneAlarm brand popular in home and SME security solutions, is making a pitch for the digital home with the impending release of a Secure Wireless Router. Leveraging Check Point's enterprise-class embedded NGX security technologies, the new wireless kit for the home brings security appliances downmarket for the first time. While unified threat management (UTM) appliances have been increasingly popular in the medium, even small business space for the last few years, they have typically been priced well above what is required to make them a viable alternative for the home. But now, thanks to a co-development effort with Check Point subsidiary SofaWare Technologies, the new wireless security router integrates seven powerful layers of protection in true UTM fashion. Putting a stateful inspection firewall, intrusion prevention, antivirus, parental controls, VPN remote access, wireless encryption, and secure remote desktop accessinto one device makes running a home network that connects to the Internet a whole lot easier. "Typical home wireless routers only include the most rudimentary security features, giving consumers a false sense of invincibility," said Laura Yecies, general manager of Check Point's consumer and small business division. "Hackers exploit these weaknesses to break into a user's home network to steal personal information or to hijack the Internet access to distribute spam, pornography or commit other Internet crimes," she says. "Now, consumers can take advantage of essentially the same security technologies used to protect the Fortune 500 while experiencing all the conveniences of a powerful wireless home network." With features like automatic software and antivirus updates, users are less likely to forget to let their network become vulnerable over time. The appliance also provides information on the performance and effectiveness of security services on a monthly basis listing the number of blocked attacks, detected viruses, filtered websites, and so on just like a software security suite for a PC. Built-in traffic monitoring and packet capture tools allow users to control and monitor incoming and outgoing traffic, and ensure efficient use oif their connection. The company plans to sell the solution as a bundle which incorporates five copies of ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite as well as a standalone appliance. The appliance will list for US$199.95, but an introductory price planed for the lauinch in late November will see the hardware priced at just US$149.95 until December 31, 2006. www.checkpoint.com www.zonelabs.com Related news items Acer Notebook Emphasises Enterprise Security -23/11/2006 Seagate To Encrypt Notebook Drives -30/10/2006 Unprotected Phones Abandoned At Airports -03/09/2006 Discarded Handhelds Reveal Secrets -30/08/2006 Cell Phone Forces Pilot To Abort Flight -14/08/2006 Newer news items ACCC Warns On Phone Scams -13/03/2007 ASI Whitebook Gets Seagate Encrypted Drive -13/03/2007 Lenovo Recalls More Batteries -01/03/2007 Cisco Beefs Up Wireless LAN Security -18/02/2007 Exploding Laptop Video -13/11/2006 Older news items Lenovo Joins Dell, Apple In Sony Recall -03/10/2006 LAX Firecracker Had A Sony Battery -21/09/2006 Vendors Contemplate Formal Standards For Lithium Ion -21/09/2006 Toshiba Joins Dell, Apple In Sony Recall -19/09/2006 IBM Laptop Explodes At LAX -17/09/2006 Tag This Now: