Anti-hack software 'worth $1bn'

Metaforic has licensed the technology from ITI Techmedia

A system claiming to protect against all forms of software piracy and hacking is being launched in Scotland.

Developers say the Metafortress anti-hack software is unique in using a network of interconnected checks which cannot be unpicked.

The system has been developed through a research and development partnership between Glasgow-based start-up Metaforic and ITI Techmedia.

The companies hope to tap into a market they believe could be worth $1bn.

Hi-tech start-up Metaforic has licensed the technology from ITI Techmedia, one of three Scotland-based Intermediary Technology Institutes which make up ITI Scotland.

It gives us an excellent opportunity to bring to market an anti-hack solution that will help in the fight against software piracy Andrew McLennan Metaforic

ITI then developed it for the commercial market to protect software distributed online against all forms of tampering, piracy and hacking.

Metaforic claim that Metafortress adopts the unique approach of "protecting the protection", through allowing cross-referenced checks to be written in which cannot be reverse engineered, preventing a weak spot or unprotected code being targeted in an attack.

CEO Andrew McLennan said: "The platform, which has been created, is second to none and gives us an excellent opportunity to bring to market an anti-hack solution that will help in the fight against software piracy."

Terry Hurley, managing director of ITI, said: "I am particularly pleased that this technology has enabled the start-up of a new Scottish company, which has been formed to exploit this novel intellectual property from the ITI.

"I also want to applaud the achievements of the Metaforic team who have worked tirelessly to bring this to fruition.

"Without doubt these achievements prove what the ITI model set out to create and has helped to put Scotland in a great position to be at the forefront of this innovative and exciting market."

Push boundaries

Metaforic said potential customers for the technology included some of the world's largest enterprise software providers with an estimated market potential in excess of $1bn by 2010.

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said: "The platform technologies developed through ITI Techmedia's Online Games Development programme offer significant commercial opportunities for Scotland.

"Through Metaforic, there is an opportunity to push forward the boundaries of IT security and to see Scotland well placed to capitalise on the rapidly expanding global market for these solutions."

As well as addressing issues of software security, ITI's Online Games Development R&D Programme is also exploring solutions to the problems of game design, networked gaming and content creation.

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