Switch system offers safer data transfer

A new service allows people sending information to control who has access to it and during what period, the developers say.

The service, called Switch, packages the information in an encrypted file that includes the email address of the recipient.

The recipient has to register with the Switch server, if they have not already done so, and authentication is done via the email address. The recipient is then given access to the unencrypted information, which may have been sent by email, FTP or USB stick.

Developer Egress Software Technologies says an added advantage is that the sender can change to access conditions even after the information has been sent.

Bob Egner, US president of Egress Software, said: “The spate of much publicised public sector security gaffes over the past few years has caused users to become increasingly nervous about the misuse of their personal or sensitive data. This new solution is available to individuals or enterprises to offer them peace of mind and ensure that their information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.”

The service costs £6.49 per month for an individual user; annual subscriptions for businesses start at £23 per year.