Software to protect users from prying eyes

Vendor Oculis Labs has announced that its PrivateEye security software is now also available as an enterprise version. PrivateEye is designed to protect screen contents from prying eyes by permanently monitoring the area in front of the screen via a webcam and blurring contents as soon as the user looks away or another person looks over the user's shoulder. A face recognition algorithm reportedly ensures that the screen content is only accessible to specific persons. If an unknown face approaches the protected computer, the software takes a picture and displays it on screen for deterrence until the legitimate user returns.

Unlike the standard version, which currently costs around $10, the enterprise version can be centrally managed via group policies. It also records events in a comprehensive log file. With these features, the program developers plan to establish the product as a serious business security solution. In a short test carried out by The H's associates at heise Security, PrivateEye only responded unreliably. While it did blur the screen content when the user left the camera's field of vision, the software unlocked the computer for an unauthorised colleague, apparently mistaking the colleague for the computer owner. People looking over the user's shoulder were only detected when standing directly behind the user.

(crve)