CDR: Zero-Knowledge -- Open Source Initiative = Responsible Privacy

[Declan McCullagh]

>From: kcory at redwhistle.com
>X-Lotus-FromDomain: WEBER
>To: declan at well.com
>Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 13:22:26 -0700
>Subject: Zero-Knowledge -- Open Source Initiative = Responsible Privacy
>
>
>
>Hi Declan,
>
>I wanted to let you know that Zero-Knowledge Systems today announced that 
>it has
>open-sourced its Freedom Linux client, the first step in its initiative to
>disseminate privacy protocols and encourage pervasive privacy standards by 
>open
>sourcing its entire Freedom network and software.
>
>Through its open source initiative, Zero-Knowledge is pioneering a movement
>toward responsible privacy by inviting software developers and 
>cryptographers to
>test and improve upon the Freedom code. Only by opening the math and
>cryptography behind privacy tools to industry examination can 
>Zero-Knowledge and
>other privacy companies truly prove the efficacy of their privacy solutions.
>I've included the announcement below for your information.
>
>If you would like further information or would like to speak with a
>Zero-Knowledge executive about the open source initiative, please call me at
>(503) 332-0204.
>
>Best regards,
>Kristy Cory
>for Zero-Knowledge
>kcory at redwhistle.com
>503-332-0204
>
>
>  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>  ZERO-KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS RELEASES SOURCE CODE OF ITS NEW LINUX FREEDOM 2.0
>  CLIENT; ANNOUNCES OPEN SOURCING OF FREEDOM PRIVACY SUITE
>
>  --Source release demonstrates Zero-Knowledge Systems
>' commitment to creating
>  open
>  standards and ubiquitous privacy technologies that benefit all Internet 
> users--
>
>  Montreal ? October 23, 2000 ? Zero-Knowledge® Systems Inc., the leading
>  developer of privacy solutions for consumers and companies, today 
> released the
>  source code of its next-generation Linux Freedom client. The company also
>  announced its commitment to open sourcing the entire award-winning Freedom®
>  privacy suite.
>
>  This open source initiative demonstrates the company's commitment to 
> creating
>  open standards and ubiquitous privacy technologies that benefit all Internet
>  users. Using Freedom code developed by Zero-Knowledge, developers,
>  cryptographers and standards bodies will be able to build new open protocols
>  and technologies for protecting privacy.
>
>  As the recognized privacy leader, Zero-Knowledge is fulfilling its 
> commitment
>  to deploy consumer products that are open and transparent in order to allow
>  anyone to verify how they perform. The release of source code provides the
>  software development and security communities the necessary proof that 
> Freedom
>  alone empowers consumers to trust only themselves with their data and 
> privacy.
>
>  "Responsible privacy begins with privacy providers being open and 
> transparent
>  with their users. Zero-Knowledge is demonstrating its leadership by 
> releasing
>  the source code to Freedom and facilitating the creation of necessary 
> privacy
>  standards," said Mike Shaver, Chief Software Officer of Zero-Knowledge 
> Systems.
>  "We encourage other privacy companies to do the same."
>
>  "Open source desktop users have a need for powerful privacy tools which
>  facilitate their use of network services. At Helix Code we are building a
>  world-class open source desktop environment that gives the user very 
> intimate
>  access to web services, and so privacy is especially important to our 
> users,"
>  said Nat Friedman, Chief Executive Officer of Helix Code, the leading open
>  source desktop software and services company. "Now that Zero-Knowledge 
> System's
>  Freedom privacy suite will be open sourced and available for Linux, this
>  important need is finally being addressed. This is a big win for the open
>  source community."
>
>  Freedom 2.0 for Windows (95/98, 2000, NT, Me) and Linux will be 
> available for
>  Internet users before Christmas 2000. The 2.0 version for Windows will 
> include
>  new features and performance enhancements requested by the Freedom user
>  community. A Macintosh version of Freedom is expected in 2001. Among other
>  accolades, Freedom was named 2000's "Most Promising Internet Newcomer" by PC
>  World and called "the Rolls-Royce of privacy software" by Yahoo! 
> Internet Life.
>
>  The entire source code to the Linux version of the Freedom privacy suite,
>  released under the Mozilla Public License 1.1 and other Open Source? 
> licenses,
>  is available for download at http://opensource.zeroknowledge.com.
>  Zero-Knowledge will next release the source code to the Windows client 
> and to
>  the server software that powers the Freedom Network, a globally-distributed
>  network of servers operated by service providers and independent 
> operators that
>  route Freedom traffic.
>
>  Freedom is the first commercial product that empowers Internet users to 
> fully
>  control their identities and personal information on the Internet without
>  having to trust their data to an ISP, privacy company or other third party.
>  Freedom transparently encrypts and reroutes Internet traffic, preventing the
>  accidental release of information that could compromise personal privacy
>  online. Users create multiple digital identities (pseudonyms, or "nyms") 
> that
>  they can associate with their Internet activities.
>
>  About Zero-Knowledge Systems, Inc.
>
>  Founded in 1997, Zero-Knowledge Systems (http://www.zeroknowledge.com) is
>  laying the digital infrastructure for privacy-enabled communications and
>  commerce between individuals, companies, governments and organizations. 
> Based
>  on its privacy infrastructure for the Internet, Zero-Knowledge creates
>  easy-to-use software and services that enable privacy through advanced
>  mathematics, cryptography and source code: the only reliable way to ensure
>  Internet privacy and security.
>
>  In December 1999, Zero-Knowledge launched Freedom®, the only privacy system
>  that empowers Internet users to surf the Web, send email, chat and post to
>  newsgroups in total privacy without having to trust third parties with their
>  personal information. Freedom can be downloaded at http://www.freedom.net.
>  Journalists can visit the Zero-Knowledge pressroom at
>  http://www.zeroknowledge.com/media.
>
>   (Freedom® and Zero-Knowledge® are registered trademarks of Zero-Knowledge
>  Systems, Inc. All other names are the property of their respective owners.)
>
>  For more information
>
>  Dov Smith
>  Director of Public Relations
>  514.350.7553
>  dov at zeroknowledge.com
>
>  Kristy Cory
>  Red Whistle Communications
>  503.552.3749
>  kcory at redwhistle.com
>
>
>
>
>