IBM technology blocks active attacks

IBM Research has unveiled a cryptography system which it claims is the best yet at preventing the most dangerous hacker invasions, known as 'active attacks'.

The technology was developed with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. Known as the 'Cramer-Shoup' cryptosystem, it is a coding system that secures information sent over public networks.

Active attacks are the most serious kinds of attack and have been at the centre of most of the high-profile hacking attempts of late. A spokesman for the research laboratories admitted: "There are other technologies around that can do this but none can do it as efficiently as this."

Jonathan Fowler, a consultant at security software group, JCP, said: "It's likely to be a significant step forward based on the decent work already being undertaken at IBM's labs. But the proof of its effectiveness against hacking is in the commercial uptake rather than the marketing that accompanies this announcement."

IBM plans to incorporate the Cramer-Shoup technology into its Vault Registry Software, part of its public key infrastructure offerings, which are being developed as a framework for ecommerce.