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From: Owner-OS2News@teamos2.org

Subject: OS2News: Int'l Edition of Lotus Notes Release 4 More Secure

Lotus Is Shipping More Secure International Edition of Notes Release 4
January 17, 1996
 
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.
 
Lotus and Lotus Notes are registered trademarks of Lotus Development
Corporation.  Notes is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation.
All other company names and products are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
 
EDITOR'S NOTE: All Lotus news releases are available on the Internet,
via the Lotus Development Corp. Home Page at http://www.Lotus.com.
The Lotus Home Page is an easy way to find information about Lotus and
its business partners' products and services.
 
A copy of this release and other company information is also available
via fax by dialing 1-800-57-LOTUS within the U.S. and Canada or
201-946-2336 outside the U.S. and Canada.  Questions concerning the
service should be directed to Lotus' corporate communications
department at 617-693-5625.
 
Please Note:
Questions about the content or currency of this press release
should be directed to your local IBM representative.