Diversinet Offers ‘Passport’ to E-Commerce Security

Diversinet Corp. (Nasdaq: DVNT), a provider of security solutions for wireless e-commerce, has announced a strategic partnership with BellSouth Wireless Data to develop and offer secure end-to-end e-commerce solutions based on its Passport security software.

Customers of the BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network will have access to Diversinet’s services, which offer secure wireless data applications such as banking, healthcare, shopping and stock trading.

“In essence, Diversinet makes wireless e-commerce happen,” commented Nagy Moustafa, Diversinet president and CEO. “Without an enhanced level of security, none of the exciting wireless e-commerce applications will succeed because users won’t trust the safety of their transactions.”

Passport software, developed and distributed by Diversinet, utilizes encryption along with digital certificates, permissions and signatures. The technology is designed for wireless devices and other bandwidth-constrained products, including smart cards.

“Diversinet’s software provides trust through our patented technology to ensure that buyers and sellers are authenticated,” added Moustafa. “The software also provides an ‘audit trail’ that’s vital if the transaction is ever disputed.”

The Bell South program, which will begin the end of the year, will serve to launch a new Diversinet wireless e-commerce strategy. Several companies have been recruited to participate as pilot projects, including Boston-based financial services firm First Call Corp.

A Thomson Financial company, First Call offers broker, earnings and income-related research, insider trading data and corporate news information. The company’s service will use financial analysts along with the Diversinet service to securely provide investment research and related services.

Cost-Effective e-Security

In other security-related news, consulting firm META Security Group announced the availability of its SecuritE-GUARD threat and vulnerability management service. The service offers remote infrastructure analysis, monitoring networks for variances in security policy and configuration.

Providing business-focused security recommendations, Meta claims that SecuritE-GUARD’s services represent a significant cost savings over traditional on-site consulting. SecuritE-GUARD additionally offers regular threat and vulnerability trend analysis and preventative risk management.

“SecuritE-GUARD is the perfect solution for companies that do not have the expertise to implement monitoring tools, or the time to proactively monitor and analyze the information and make the adjustments required to reduce the risk on an ongoing basis,” stated Jeff Johnson, co-founder and CEO of META Security Group. “META Security Group becomes an organization’s ‘virtual security staff’ by delivering these fundamental services over the Internet, without the high cost of on-site consultants or a full-time security staff.”

Area 51

Funded in part by META Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: METG) — META Security Group works out of its Area 51 research and development facility, providing both high-end and mass-market security services and solutions over the Internet. It was founded in January of this year.