Redaction software could have prevented US embarrassment

The US Military’s embarrassment at the “hacked” release of classified information, relating to the US killing in Iraq of an Italian intelligence agent, could have been avoided through using redaction software.

Using a simple software cut and paste technique, the German “hacker” was able to “un-redact” the so called protected PDF document, and spread the full censored details of the Multinational Corps-Iraq investigation across the internet.

Names of some of the US soldiers involved in the incident were blacked out of the US military report. Nicola Calipari, 50, died after being shot in the head, and rescued hostage, Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, was wounded. The Italians have disputed the “tragic accident” conclusion surrounding the incident that occurred March 4, and the differences with the de-censored US report could further strain relations between the two countries.

The fact that economically available redaction software could have easily prevented the embarrassment was disclosed today by the principal of Onstream Systems Ltd, David Kelly.

He said the unique software, RapidRedact™, launched last year in New Zealand, Australia, UK and the United States, provided a foolproof, failsafe method of “censoring or redacting sensitive information from documents before publication.” It is the first software which allows publishers of electronic information to economically and rapidly prevent the accidental leakage of sensitive data.

At the time of the launch, he said the software should prove a boon for Government organisations, legal firms and businesses forced to publish electronic information they hold without infringing privacy legislation and other reporting compliance obligations.

“Documents that are stored and passed on electronically, can carry with them every text change and annotation from the time of first creation,” he said. “RapidRedact™ provides a fast, simple method of ‘blotting out’ information and completely removes any record of text or author’s changes, and cleans hidden code or data from “behind” the document. Since the content is no longer in the document, snooping or hacking into the file cannot reveal it."

"RapidRedact™ ensures the reporting and disclosure of essential information only."

RapidRedact™ can be integrated with any Windows application, including Adobe Acrobat.

Onstream Systems is seeking a number of worldwide patents on the software.

For further information:
Janice Roth
Marketing Manager
Ph:    +64 4 473-1711
Fax:   +64 4 473-1712
Mob:  +64 21 1010 387
Web: www.onstreamsystems.com
 
9 Mairangi Road, PO Box 3536, Wellington, NZ

Read a BBC article about the incident

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