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Security and privacy software firm Steganos on Tuesday entered the Mac product market with the launch of Internet Anonym VPN for the Mac OS.
The service provides Mac users with a secure and anonymous Internet connection over home and business wireless connections and WiFi hotspots. The product protects users from eavesdropping by others while viewing Web sites and transferring data.
The company has offered a similar product for Windows PC users for the last eight months.
"This privacy need is an area not being addressed for Mac users, so it seemed like a good place to start a relationship with the Mac community," Aston Fallen, CEO of Steganos, told MacNewsWorld. "Our research shows that no other products like this exists for Mac users."
Risk Reducer
Internet Anonym VPN reduces the privacy risks posed when connected to wireless LANs and WiFi spots, according to Steganos.
The new service for Mac users secures two critical security areas. Data can be intercepted when users piggyback on a nearby connection source like another wireless computer.
The Steganos service also protects wireless users who have an unsecured connection through an unknown Internet provider.
What It Does
Steganos' Internet Anonym VPN service works in the background without requiring configuration changes to browsing software or causing data flow delays. The software creates an encrypted tunnel between a user's computer and one of the Steganos VPN servers.
This tunnel uses SSL encryption. This encryption method is typically used for online banking and e-commerce sites to protect all data from interception, including access from the customer's 
Internet service provider (ISP).
The Steganos security service protects Internet activities like surfing, blogging, instant messaging, e-commerce and the use of file sharing networks by resending the encrypted data and anonymizing or concealing the true location of the wireless connection.
Hidden Connections
The Steganos server relays the user's requests to the Internet and returns responses. Thus, only the Steganos server is visible to Web site operators.
The end user's anonymity is assured and any messages intercepted are protected by encryption. An icon in the task list indicates when the secure connection is activated.
The Internet Anonym VPN also encrypts e-mails sent and received so they can not be read if intercepted.
No Records Kept
The Steganos servers only keep a record of the packet sizes for billing purposes. The company does not store any information about the user's activities or online behavior, according to company officials.
Steganos uses its own farm of high-capacity servers and adds new servers as required to ensure that users can surf without delay, even during busy periods.
The system automatically kicks in with additional servers when too many users are connected. This prevents the system from refusing new connections or slowing down the throughput, according to Fallen.
Mac users with an Intel-based Mac can use the privacy software regardless of which platform they run, he said.
Plans to Expand
Steganos plans to offer Mac users a variety of security products ported from the Windows product line, Fallen said.
"There are different issues that got us into the Mac product line. I've used Macs for years and have a big affinity for them," said Fallen.
His company specializes in encryption products for the PC so the market timing is good to offer the same products for the Mac platform, he added.
Steganos Internet Anonym VPN 25 covers 25 GB of traffic in a month and costs US$14.95 per month.
A discounted annual license, Steganos Internet Anonym VPN 300, is available for $99.95 based on 25 GB per month for 12 months.
To help users keep track, the main windows of the software display shows the amount of data used and available data volume.
System Requirements
The Steganos wireless privacy software runs on Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) Mac computers with either the Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) processor or the PowerPC architecture.
The software runs on the Mac OS X 10.4 operating system with at least 50 MB of free space on the hard disk.
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