WEB SSL VPN:     NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGY TODAY

A CLOSER LOOK:    MEGAPROXY® WEB SSL VPN

Introducing Megaproxy® Web SSL VPN

Leveraging Web browser built-in support for SSL RC4-128 BIT ENCRYPTION, the Megaproxy® SSL VPN enables encrypted browser-based Internet connectivity through otherwise unsecured public or wireless networks. Megaproxy's Web SSL VPN implementation is based on the concept of a secure application-level rewriting proxy. Our "browser-within-a-browser" secure proxy implementation was exclusively structured to utilize the SSL transport and fine-tuned to maintain the integrity of the encrypted SSL tunnel to ensure user privacy during a session. The idea for rewriting a proxy is not new and has been used for years by low-level "html parser" scripts, commercialized by some Internet entrepreneurs as "anonymous web surfing." However, Megaproxy® has enhanced this basic design to increase its effectiveness and continuously incorporates nascent technology to align its offering with top level market innovations.

Since its inception in early 2001, the Megaproxy® Web SSL VPN has offered a better alternative to meet the demands of sophisticated Internet users. Our customers wanted an easy to use security service capable of handling web pages with advanced JAVASCRIPT and MACROMEDIA FLASH / ACTIVE SCRIPT MULTIMEDIA support without sacrificing user privacy. Furthermore, our customers demanded a service that is consistently fast, widely accessible, and capable of reliably delivering the requested web content over SSL encrypted tunnels. We responded. Built with uncompromising consideration for user identity protection, Megaproxy® Web SSL VPN shares the same essential technological foundation and commitment to data integrity as comparable enterprise SSL VPN solutions. Yet it also exceeds the mark with many additional feature offerings not available elsewhere, all at a lower price.

Understanding Megaproxy® Web SSL VPN

In contrast to other enterprise class SSL VPN products, which are engineered for secure and remote access to a limited range of supported corporate resources, the Megaproxy® Web SSL VPN solution was distinctively designed for the consumer market as well. It offers an affordable and versatile technology that allows our customers to thoroughly experience the benefits of private web access. Megaproxy's progressive product development efforts incorporate the constructive suggestions of thousands of Megaproxy® users and effectively strike the right balance of Megaproxy® Web SSL VPN functionality and service features with the e-privacy requirements of today's power users.

Megaproxy's approach is fundamentally different from other internet solutions and has been so from the beginning: Megaproxy® employs the same principles as a properly configured firewall and only permits web content allowed by internal rules. For example, Megaproxy® does not just blindly rewrite JavaScript links, or, even worse, allow JavaScript to go completely unprocessed like many other services. Instead, it analyzes the structure of a JavaScript file before rewriting the source and selectively disables the JavaScript functions deemed potentially unsafe. The same methodology also applies to other web content processing sub-systems, such as web pages and Macromedia® Flash multimedia. Megaproxy® employs hundreds of creative techniques to detect and patch up poorly written web pages, handle remote website errors, timeouts, and misconfigured or non-compliant web services.

Due to Megaproxy's keen web safety standards and its mission of utmost privacy protection, our approach may present a situation in which a particular site, service, or web page may not be accessible with Megaproxy® Web SSL VPN. On one hand, services and products offering privacy security and identity protection are not necessarily looked upon favorably by some Internet players (e.g.: online advertising or product marketing companies, etc), who have conflicting interests and may attempt to thwart your efforts to protect yourself. Site accessibility errors also commonly arise from the use of non-native browser plug-in applications, the intrusive nature of JavaScript calls, or the misconfiguration of remote web services that do not comply with well-accepted Internet standards. Our automatic W3 HTTP PROTOCOL STANDARD compliance checking functionality may also interfere with the ability to access a site (ex. malicious or invalid HTTP headers, non-compliant Internet cookies, etc). These fallibilities are unavoidable and plague any Internet solution. We have attempted to minimize them and have gone to extra lengths to ensure that the service is free of common bugs and that all web content is handled properly to protect user privacy. Our objective is to provide a service that finds equilibrium between the simplicity favored by casual Internet users and the rigorous requirements of more experienced tech-savvy customers.

While there are a handful of consumer sites that offer such security services on the Internet, Megaproxy's is more extensive and dependable. Many Internet surfers may not realize that beyond the obvious benefits of SSL encryption, the SSL tunnel also serves as an ultimate test for service quality and maturity by effectively exposing the common deception gimmicks that are often seen with low-level "anonymous surfing" services.

128-bit SSL encryption - The logical choice

SSL Encryption is the de facto standard for secure browser-based data communications over public networks. Modern browsers, such as INTERNET EXPLORER, OPERA, SAFARI and MOZILLA support secure transactions over the Secure Socket Layer. Since the introduction of SSL in 1994, SSL protocol has proven to be a fairly secure and reliable transport, thereby making it a wise choice for sensitive data transmission. When it comes to VPN based solutions that rely on the integrity of SSL encryption, there are a number of key factors that enhance the suitability of SSL with Virtual Private Networking products:

Megaproxy® offers an innovative consumer-based Web SSL VPN service that can function alone or serve as an effective complement to other online security strategies for only a minimal fee. To learn more about individual Megaproxy® benefits and features, please follow the web links on the top of the page.

- 1 -  SSL VPN technology is a rapidly growing sub segment of the IT security industry. According to Frost & Sullivan, * the market for the technology grew 360 percent last year, with sales jumping from $20 million in 2002 to $90 million. The market research firm expects that 2003 figure to more than double to $202 million this year. And by 2006, it expects sales to exceed $500 million.