iventurelab and Intelytics brief U.S. lawmakers on Internet privacy invasion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jennifer Gross            

iventurelab, Inc.                

(412) 621-4050

jgross@iventurelab.com

iventurelab and Intelytics brief U.S. lawmakers on Internet privacy invasion

PITTSBURGH, PA - March 12, 2001 - The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Privacy Council (CPC) held its first briefing yesterday in the 107th Congress to discuss threats to consumer online privacy via web bugs. Intelytics, Inc., a business specializing in Internet privacy, security, data mining, and intelligence, was launched last month as an iventurelab partner company. At the CPC briefing, Intelytics' automated web bug detection technology was showcased before a panel of leading industry experts on a fact-finding mission to learn more about web bugs.

Web bugs are tracking devices deployed primarily by Internet marketing and ad companies to monitor the activity of online users. At yesterday's hearing, Intelytics demonstrated several of the ways that web bugs could be designed to violate consumer online privacy. In front of a sizeable, noticeably stunned crowd, the company showed how web bug technology can be used to track the online movements of Web surfers, check if they have read their e-mail, and examine the contents of their hard drives.

"This is frightening," said Sen. Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, after watching the Intelytics web bug demonstration.

"While most Web bugs are used by online ad networks for legal purposes," said Tommy Wang, CEO and Co-Founder of iventurelab, "they can just as easily be deployed for more nefarious reasons such as to track personally identifiable and confidential financial information about online consumers without either their knowledge or consent."

To date, Intelytics has identified twenty-three different web bug patterns in four different type categories. An Intelytics scan conducted this holiday season of over 50 million web pages found almost 16 million pages with one or more active web bugs. The company estimates that individuals have a greater than 90% chance of their online behavior being tracked by a third party while surfing the Web. In order to address this mounting problem, the company has developed a comprehensive suite of soon-to-be-released software products that automatically identify and eradicate web bugs from networked systems. Businesses, organizations, and individual users can use this groundbreaking technology to counteract the privacy threat posed by web bugs.

"The widespread use of web bugs is likely to erode the very public confidence that it will be essential to build for the continued deployment of new Internet products and services," said Miles Wallace, President and Managing Director of iventurelab, "Intelytics is committed to addressing this highly serious threat, and we will continue to develop leading edge privacy solutions to ensure that the Internet is a safe and secure channel for business and communication."

The CPC is co-chaired by Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL; Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT; Rep. Edward Markey, D-MA; and Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas. Other speakers that addressed the caucus included Kevin G. Coleman, strategic advisor to iventurelab and Intelytics, Christine A. Varney, Counsel to the industry-led Online Privacy Alliance and former Federal Trade Commissioner, Gary Clayton, founder and CEO of the Privacy Council, Dr. Steven B. Lucas, Chief Privacy Officer of the Privacy Council, and Richard Smith, Privacy Foundation CTO.

About Intelytics

Intelytics, Inc. is a software and services company specializing in Internet security, privacy, intelligence gathering, and data mining. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company seeking to minimize the potential security risk on your website, an e-Business seeking to drive traffic and increase customer satisfaction, or an individual user who wants to protect your PC from online privacy threats, Intelytics has the right solution to meet your needs. Intelytics' comprehensive mix of software platforms and expert professional services can provide you with the protection you need to navigate safely through the increasingly unsafe channels of the connected world.

About iventurelab

iventurelab, Inc. is a technology research and development company that develops and commercializes leading edge software technologies. iventurelab's world-class team of technologists and strategists reduces the risk and timeline associated with technology initiatives through project selectivity and superior development cycle time.

For additional information about iventurelab, Intelytics, or other iventurelab partner companies, please visit www.iventurelab.com or call Jennifer Gross at (412) 621-4050.