Yoggie Gatekeeper ExpressCard and Pico

A 13-layer network security appliance for the desktop or notebook, the Yoggie Gatekeeper series is a powerful accessory for personal use.  The Gatekeeper comes in two flavors:  the Gatekeepter ExpressCard and the Pico.

The only difference between these two devices is their size.  The ExpressCard is about credit-card sized attachment, and the Pico is a USB stick about the size of a thumb drive.

The concept behind the Yoggie Gatekeeper is to offload all network security duties to the device.  This lessens the burden the PC’s CPU.  All network traffic is routed through the device and run through filters.  The devices themselves are full-fledged computers on a card, it uses a 520 MHz Intel Xscale processor with 128MB RAM running Linux.

Effectively, the computer’s CPU is liberated from the task of securing itself.  With the Gatekeeper as an attachment, any attacks can be nipped in the bud, away from the computer.  Security updates are also left to the Gatekeeper.  The PC will have practically no appreciable performance degradation while using the Gatekeeper.

Other benefits include:

• Offload security processing from laptops and PCs, improving performance
• Web-based configuration interface
• No need to install heavy software products that “pop up with confusing messages”
• Internet updates on hourly basis, without disturbing the user or hampering laptop resources
• Remove Gatekeeper and all network connections are stopped
• Centralized, all-in-one security
• Competitive pricing to software-only products

Among its security features are:

• Adaptive Security Policy;
• Multi-Layer Security Agent (Patent pending);
• Layer-8 Security Engine (Patent pending);
• URL Categorisation and Filtering;
• Anti-spam;
• Anti-phishing;
• Anti-spyware;
• anti-virus;
• Transparent e-mail proxies (POP3 and SMTP);
• Transparent Web Proxies (HTTP; FTP);
• Intrusion Detection System/Intrusion Prevention System;
• VPN Client;
• Stateful Inspection Firewall.

What this all means is that the small office/home office desktop, or the game home PC or the netbook in the internet cafe browsing the WiFi can all have the same server room high-level security.  This all in one device is very comprehensive and packed with best-of-breed features from different software and network security manufacturers and enclosed in a hardened OS.

Lots of thoght was put into designing the Gatekeeper.  And more than enough consideration was given to what else is not covered, that new technology was included in the package.

The price is competitive at below $200.