CNET News.com: NSA looks to Linux for virtual security | Linux Today

CNET News.com: NSA looks to Linux for virtual security

Written By
Web Webster
Web Webster
Feb 1, 2001

[ Thanks to bholzrichter for this link.
]

“Software emulation firm VMware announced it has teamed up with
researchers at the National Security Agency to create a nearly
crack-proof computer that can place sensitive data in virtual
vaults inside the PC.”

“The concept, assuming it works, would streamline the methods
intelligence agencies use to manage data. At present, the NSA–the
military surveillance arm of the United States intelligence
community–physically separates networks carrying data of a
particular classification. For example, top-secret data might be
kept on a different computer than data classified merely as
sensitive material. Sometimes, for workers to have access to the
information they need, up to six different computers can be on a
single desk.”

“That type of security is called–in typical intelligence
community jargon–an “air gap.” It works, but its days could be
numbered, said Ed Bugnion, founder and manager of research and
development for Palo Alto, Calif.-based VMware.”

“I believe we have a solution out there that provides security
comparable to having multiple computers,” he said.”

Complete
Story

Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

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