Innovative new technology from PixAlert completely prevents pornographic images being displayed and viewed on computer screens in the workplace, schools and colleges or public areas such as libraries. Using advanced high-speed image analysis software to scan images in real-time, the latest version of PixAlert Monitor blurs illegal or inappropriate images as they are rendered on screen.

By preventing inadvertent or deliberate exposure to illicit images, PixAlert Monitor is designed to protect company directors, management and employees from the risk of criminal or civil claims for sexual harassment or corporate negligence, for example.

Unlike conventional technology that simply tries to stop images entering the network via the Internet, PixAlert Monitor detects illegal and inappropriate images actually being displayed on screen and originating from any computer source. This includes CDs or DVDs, USB-connected memory sticks, phones or PDAs and 3G cellular or Wi-Fi hotspots.

PixAlert Monitor runs continually on a company's network of PCs - whether they are on the network or working remotely. An agent is installed on each PC on the network and reports into central Server application. A separate GUI application is used to view the secure information stored on the Server application. If a suspect image is viewed on client PC screen, which transgresses a set level of sensitivity, a thumbnail copy is made and sent to the Server machine.

A gallery of suspect images is available for review by a trusted officer of the company. These images are then categorised by the reviewer and added to a user case. Several reports are generated automatically, providing both a summary view of images found on the company's network and also a detailed view of images per user.

PixAlert Monitor does not rely upon image formats or file types in order to cause a trigger to scan an image. This is due to the fact that PixAlert Monitor is effectively 'format agnostic' meaning that images are intercepted at the screen level and assessed based on the image that will be viewed by the User, therefore it can be said that PixAlert Monitor protection against inappropriate images in 'all' file types.

PixAlert Monitor is designed to detect all images but is optimised to detect pornographic images. As a result PixAlert Monitor should detect life-like cartoon images as being of an illicit nature, however the less life-like a cartoon is, the less likely it is PixAlert Monitor will detect it as being of an illicit nature. It is worth considering that PixAlert Monitor can be configured to detect all images within an environment and thus will detect cartoons, which could then be manually categorised. There will also be the opportunity to create a blacklist of known illicit images, which will then be detected and this could include inappropriate cartoons.

The ability to blur images in real time adds a new level of protection for employees, pupils, students and members of the public. Controls can be set that allow users to take a conscious decision to override the blurring if the image material is relevant - in a hospital environment, for example. But if the user is given the option to override the blurring and view the image, these actions are immediately recorded and logged.

According to The Centre for Internet Studies, more than 60 per cent of companies have disciplined staff and over 30 per cent have terminated employment for illicit image abuse. By implementing PixAlert Monitor, organisations should be able to ensure their employees comply with policies and legislation on inappropriate and illegal content. At the same time, PixAlert Monitor reduces security and legal risks for managers and directors.

PixAlert Monitor resides on the desktop and when a suspect image is blurred and subsequently viewed, a record is created in an audit log and an immediate alert can be sent to the administrator console. The administrator can view an encrypted copy of the image, along with the source machine and user name, date-time and the program used to view it.

'Inappropriate images in the workplace are becoming a real threat to business operations,' said Andy Churley, PixAlert's Marketing Director: 'Their presence on corporate computers and dissemination through a network can have severe consequences for an organisation and its corporate officers, including exposure to civil litigation, criminal proceedings, brand and reputation damage, financial loss and breach of corporate policies.

'PixAlert Monitor is unique in that it not only detects inappropriate and illegal web-based images, but also prevents deliberate or accidental viewing the material, no matter how it has been introduced onto the computer'.

* Please note that the image above is for illustration purposes only and is not a true example of how PixAlert Monitor handles images.

BIOS, Nov 17, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Security