RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – October 16, 2006 – Lenovo today announced the first ThinkPad notebooks using security technologies from Utimaco that enable people to fully encrypt the contents of their hard drive with a single swipe of their finger. Lenovo also announced improvements in wireless connectivity and processing performance such as 802.11n technology and the Intel Core2Duo processor to the ThinkPad line, and a new relationship with Softex to provide a comprehensive new authentication management tool.
Lenovo worked with Utimaco to integrate and offer SafeGuard Easy 4.30, a software program that encrypts information on the hard drive with the single swipe of a fingerprint reader on select ThinkPad notebooks. Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks are the first to offer this rock-solid, layered security solution, which currently provides one of the highest levels of data protection available on mobile PCs.
According to the Computer Security Institute/FBI’s 2006 Computer Crime and Security Survey, unauthorized PC access and theft cost companies more than $16 million in losses in 2006. For the past several years, unauthorized PC access and theft have been leading causes of financial loss among IT users.
“Statistics show few stolen computers are ever recovered, and companies today know the increasing numbers of stolen notebooks bring a high risk for data and identify theft,” said Bob Galush, vice president software and peripherals, Lenovo. “Every person carrying unencrypted sensitive information on a notebook PC is at risk. ThinkPad and Utimaco’s SafeGuard Easy will help customers better manage this security risk.”
The SafeGuard Easy software has received FIPS 140-2 certification from the U.S. government. The U.S. government requires this certification when purchasing encryption products.
Lenovo also expanded its security portfolio today by offering a more integrated way for companies to centrally manage fingerprint templates and other authentication credentials and policies. Lenovo will offer Softex’s OmniPass software for PC authentication management including fingerprints and passwords on select Lenovo PCs.
“Not only are businesses focused on PC security, they want to manage it effectively. Softex’s OmniPass software gives them the control they need over multiple systems while at the same time helping to reduce IT support costs by minimizing password reset requests,” said Galush.
Wireless Connectivity Lenovo is also leading the way in the next generation of wireless connectivity. Select notebooks in the T, R, X and Z Series will now offer integrated 802.11n wireless LAN technology. Based on the IEEE 802.11n draft standard 1 , ThinkPads with this new wireless technology will allow users to achieve “faster than wired” 2 connectivity with speeds in excess of 100 mbps. The new ThinkPad notebook 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN adapter is backward compatible to support 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a wireless standards.
Processing and Operating System In addition to the ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Adapter, select notebooks in the T, R, X and Z Series will now offer the Intel Core2Duo 64-bit processor. This gives users increased performance without greatly increasing power consumption, especially valuable when running multiple processes simultaneously. In anticipation of Microsoft’s Windows Vista™ operating system launch in 2007, all ThinkPad Series notebooks will now offer Windows Vista™ Capable models, including many that are Windows Vista™ Premium Ready.
About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world’s best engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com/us/en .
1 The IEEE 802.11n specification has not been finalized and is currently in draft release. The ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapters are based on the Draft Release, Version 1.0, of the IEEE 802.11n specification. An adapter with 11a/b, 11a/b/g, or 11a/b/g/n can communicate on any of its supported formats; theactual connection will be based on the access point to which it connects.
2 Speed is dependent on many factors, for example the router, in addition to the wireless technology in the notebook.
Comments