Zero-Knowledge Systems (also known as ZKS) was a Canadian privacy technology software and services company, best known for the Freedom Network, its privacy network. It was founded by brothers Austin Hill & Hamnett Hill and their father Hamnett Hill Sr. (aka Hammie Hill) in 1997. Its headquarters were in Montreal, Quebec. Early investors and board members were Mike Santer and Alex Hern co-founder Inktomi. The company rebranded under the new name Radialpoint though was no longer a developer of privacy-enhancing technologies.[1] Most recently, it was acquired by AppDirect and rebranded as AppHelp.
Zero-Knowledge Systems was one of the first large-scale commercial attempts to combine cypherpunk principles with a for-profit technology. During its heyday, ZKS captured the media's imagination and successfully drew attention to the privacy risks of unsuspecting internet users.
Being based in Canada allowed it to circumvent the US ban on strong cryptography, considered "munitions" at the time. ZKS was featured in Wired magazine as early as 1999.[2]
The ZKS Freedom Network was a pioneer of anonymous networking technology, predating the Tor network. Some of the enterprise privacy research was also inherited by the IBM Tivoli digital rights management suite.[3]
Several of the company's employees were from an academic privacy-enhanced technology background: Stefan Brands (senior cryptographer) and cypherpunk background Ian Goldberg (chief scientist) and Adam Back (architect & cryptographer). Other employees included Mike Shaver (chief software officer), Adam Shostack, Anton Stiglic, Jonathan Wilkins and Ulf Moller.[4]Stephanie Perrin served as Chief Privacy Officer for the firm before she became Director of Research and Policy at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and helped to draft PIPEDA, the Canadian privacy law.[5]
Referencesedit
^A New Kind of Mafia in Montreal? How a Culture of Startup CEOs are Playing the Angel Game BetaKit. September 3, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2014
^Oakes, Chris (9 February 1999). "Zero-Knowledge: Nothing Personal". Wired. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
^"Enterprise Privacy Authorization Language (EPAL)".
^"Dr. Stefan Brands Joins Zero-Knowledge Systems". CANADIAN CORPORATE NEWS. February 23, 2000. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
^. Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
Further readingedit
Akin, David (13 May 2002). "Zero-Knowledge learns a valuable lesson". The Globe and Mail. Montreal. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
Silverman, Craig (9 June 2004). "Zero-Knowledge Systems Inc., on Behalf of Synomos Inc., Files Motion to Institute Proceedings Against IBM". Business Wire (Press release). Montreal. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
Clark, Don (5 October 2001). "Zero-Knowledge to End Service That Allowed Online Anonymity". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
Silverman, Craig (4 May 2005). "Radialpoint, New Name of Company Formerly Known as Zero-Knowledge Systems". Business Wire. Montreal. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
Lemos, Robert (23 October 2000). "Zero-Knowledge open sources Freedom". ZDNet. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
Emergent Chaos (12 June 2007). "Whatever happened to Zero-Knowledge Systems?". ITProPortal. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
Edwards, M (10 January 2002). "Zero-Knowledge Systems Introduces Security and Privacy Tool Suite". IT Pro. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
April 12, 2024
zero, knowledge, systems, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, articl. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Zero Knowledge Systems news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The neutrality of this article is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view Please discuss further on the talk page May 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Zero Knowledge Systems also known as ZKS was a Canadian privacy technology software and services company best known for the Freedom Network its privacy network It was founded by brothers Austin Hill amp Hamnett Hill and their father Hamnett Hill Sr aka Hammie Hill in 1997 Its headquarters were in Montreal Quebec Early investors and board members were Mike Santer and Alex Hern co founder Inktomi The company rebranded under the new name Radialpoint though was no longer a developer of privacy enhancing technologies 1 Most recently it was acquired by AppDirect and rebranded as AppHelp Zero Knowledge SystemsIndustryPrivacy TechnologyFounded1998HeadquartersMontreal Quebec CanadaKey peopleAustin Hill CEO and Hamnett Hill COO ProductsFreedom networkfreedom pseudonymous mail systemNumber of employees300Websitezero knowledge comZero Knowledge Systems was one of the first large scale commercial attempts to combine cypherpunk principles with a for profit technology During its heyday ZKS captured the media s imagination and successfully drew attention to the privacy risks of unsuspecting internet users Being based in Canada allowed it to circumvent the US ban on strong cryptography considered munitions at the time ZKS was featured in Wired magazine as early as 1999 2 The ZKS Freedom Network was a pioneer of anonymous networking technology predating the Tor network Some of the enterprise privacy research was also inherited by the IBM Tivoli digital rights management suite 3 Several of the company s employees were from an academic privacy enhanced technology background Stefan Brands senior cryptographer and cypherpunk background Ian Goldberg chief scientist and Adam Back architect amp cryptographer Other employees included Mike Shaver chief software officer Adam Shostack Anton Stiglic Jonathan Wilkins and Ulf Moller 4 Stephanie Perrin served as Chief Privacy Officer for the firm before she became Director of Research and Policy at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and helped to draft PIPEDA the Canadian privacy law 5 References edit A New Kind of Mafia in Montreal How a Culture of Startup CEOs are Playing the Angel Game BetaKit September 3 2013 Retrieved August 2 2014 Oakes Chris 9 February 1999 Zero Knowledge Nothing Personal Wired Retrieved 13 May 2020 Enterprise Privacy Authorization Language EPAL Dr Stefan Brands Joins Zero Knowledge Systems CANADIAN CORPORATE NEWS February 23 2000 Retrieved February 4 2014 Stephanie Perrin Ms CANADA Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2023 08 25 Further reading editAkin David 13 May 2002 Zero Knowledge learns a valuable lesson The Globe and Mail Montreal Retrieved 12 May 2020 Silverman Craig 9 June 2004 Zero Knowledge Systems Inc on Behalf of Synomos Inc Files Motion to Institute Proceedings Against IBM Business Wire Press release Montreal Retrieved 13 May 2020 Clark Don 5 October 2001 Zero Knowledge to End Service That Allowed Online Anonymity Wall Street Journal Retrieved 13 May 2020 Silverman Craig 4 May 2005 Radialpoint New Name of Company Formerly Known as Zero Knowledge Systems Business Wire Montreal Retrieved 13 May 2020 Lemos Robert 23 October 2000 Zero Knowledge open sources Freedom ZDNet Retrieved 7 December 2022 Emergent Chaos 12 June 2007 Whatever happened to Zero Knowledge Systems ITProPortal Retrieved 13 May 2020 Edwards M 10 January 2002 Zero Knowledge Systems Introduces Security and Privacy Tool Suite IT Pro Retrieved 13 May 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zero Knowledge Systems amp oldid 1204017095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
