11/4/2003

New "PCKey" Provides the Strongest Combination of Access Control and Data Protection for Laptop Computers

Kensington Technology Group, the leading provider of accessories that help make using computers more comfortable and productive - and makers of the first laptop security cable lock - introduced today a new solution for securing laptop data that provides unprecedented piece of mind for computer users and IT managers. The Kensington®® PCKey™ USB Access Key secures the data on laptop computers with a unique combination of two-factor authentication and 128-bit AES hard drive encryption, making it the strongest total client protection solution of its kind. Kensington launched PCKey here at the 30th Annual Computer Security Conference & Exhibition.

PCKey works by securing all data on a laptop computer's hard drive until it is requested by an application. Users access their laptop's data by simply inserting the Kensington PCKey into a USB port and entering a password. This patent-pending two-factor authentication process identifies and confirms that the person requesting access is in fact the person they claim to be. Much like using a bank card and PIN number at an ATM, requiring the use of a physical device in combination with a password is significantly more secure than password access alone. Users ensure the dynamic, two-factor security by taking the PCKey with them whenever they leave their computers.

Once authentication is confirmed, the secured data passes through the active PCKey filter and is opened on the fly to be stored in the computer's system memory for the application to use. Then, all data that is written to the hard drive is secured on the fly as it passes back through the PCKey filter. The data remains secured until it is requested again by the user and an application. All this happens in the background, making PCKey easy to use and transparent to the user.

PC Key utilizes 128-bit AES (advanced encryption standard) to secure laptop data - an encryption standard that creates 3.4 x 1038 possible "keys," making PC Key literally impossible to hack. In fact, if a computer were programmed to find one key among all the possible keys a 128-bit AES system can create, it would take 149 trillion years to crack.*

"Securing laptop computers is the most important aspect of maintaining the security of a company's network and the invaluable data it stores," said Don Angel, Vice President of Product Management at Kensington Technology Group. "Simply put, laptop computers are gateways to company networks, and with all the login scripts and passwords stored on a typical hard drive, anyone with access to a company's laptop computer can also gain access to company data. Kensington PCKey locks up these laptop gateways with the easiest to use, most secure access control and data protection on the market."

Kensington PCKey will be available nationwide from computer resellers and at www.kensington.com. As with all Kensington security products, PCKey is backed by The Kensington Promise(SM), which includes a one-year warranty and free technical support**.

Notes to editors

About Kensington

Kensington is a leading provider of desktop and mobile device accessories, trusted by IT, educators, business and home office professionals around the world for more than 35 years. Kensington products empower people to dynamically interact with content, creating a better working experience for productive performance. In both office and mobile environments, Kensington’s extensive portfolio of award-winning products provides trusted security, desktop productivity innovations, and ergonomic well-being. Our core competencies in engineering, industrial design, product quality and responsive customer support make Kensington The Professionals’ Choice^™.

Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Kensington operates as the technology division of ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO), one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded business, academic and consumer products, sold in more than 100 countries across the globe.

Kensington is the inventor and worldwide leader in laptop security locks, the acknowledged leader of Trackball innovation and offers a broad range of premium-branded desktop productivity solutions.