Linux powered mini-machines for Macs

By Davey Winder
Monday, 13 October 2008 17:48

Home IT

Mac users might less vulnerable to Internet security threats than those who take the Windows route to computing nirvana, but 'less' is not the same as 'not at all' and that's why the world's first miniature hardware Internet security devices for the Mac have been announced today with a little help from Linux.

With some sources predicting more than 10 million Macs will be sold by the end of the year, it can come as no surprise to learn that Apple devices are becoming increasingly attractive targets to those who would compromise your data.

Shlomo Touboul, Founder and CEO of Yoggie Security Systems, reckons he has the answer. "As a nomad Mac user myself, who is heavily dependent on his computer and is always online, I want maximum security and mobility without installing heavy duty software on my MacBook Pro" he says.

So he has launched the Gatekeeper Pico for the Mac, complete with 12 Apple friendly Internet security applications on a tiny USB key sized hardware device.

The device is actually a Linux-based mini-computer that offloads the security requirement from the Mac onto the Gatekeeper Pico courtesy of its 12 built-in security applications.

These include an integrated stateful inspection firewall, Snort intrusion detection system, Kaspersky anti-virus, Malishell anti-spam and a Multi-Layer security agent.

It boots us with the Mac and a low-level driver 'hijacks' all network connections to provide protection to the Mac host immediately.

It does this by routing all Internet traffic through the Gatekeeper before it can reach the Mac, meaning that any attack hits the device rather than the host.

In another world first, the Gatekeeper Card Pro version of the device fits into the MacBook ExpressCard slot to provide the same functionality. Which makes it the first computer designed to be installed inside another computer for security purposes.