Secure Browser

Virtual9 has over 3 years experience installing Internet kiosks into
unmanaged public locations in the UK, on a wide variety of hardware and
operating platforms.

Our extensive knowledge of Internet browser technology makes Virtual9 the
ideal partner for companies wishing to deploy kiosks within a protected,
controllable software environment.

The unique Kiosk Administrator software module enables total control of
kiosks in the field, including

• Issuing updates of the core Browser program
• Issuing updates of the kiosk carousel
• Remote control access to the kiosks

A range of packages is available, from a complete turn-key system
including hardware and on-going support, to software-only agreements
simply licensing use of the Virtual9 Browser and Administrator programs.

Virtual9 also offers a kiosk outsourcing solution, allowing companies
delivering web-based solutions to concentrate on their core technologies
at the server end, rather than be distracted by kiosk deployment issues.
The outsourcing package may include any or all of the following:

• 24/7 telephone hotline
• Kiosk software and operating system support
• Kiosk hardware support
• End-user training
• Bespoke browser development
• Carousel creation and updating

The Virtual9 Secure Browser - key features:

Operating System Security
The Virtual9 Secure Browser is a secure front-end browser program that
protects the computer's operating system from damage. The computer boots
straight into the Browser program at system startup, and users cannot then
gain access to Microsoft Windows. No Windows menus or controls are
displayed - essential system files may therefore not be modified or
deleted, neither accidentally nor maliciously.

Simple User Interface
Appeals both to novices and to experienced users

On-screen keyboard
Where the browser is used with a touch-screen computer, it offers an
on-screen keyboard for typing text, for example when navigating to
specific URLs, or when sending emails

Secure encrypted credit card data collection
Where payment control is required, the browser captures the data from an
attached magnetic card reader, and encrypts this before transmitting it to
the banking system for processing

Blocked downloads
All download protocols are blocked, so no files may be downloaded from the
Internet; it is therefore impossible to download a virus onto the system

Offline 'carousel'
When not in use for email or for web browsing, the software can display a
series of pages or images that have previously been loaded onto the hard
disk

Automatic update
The browser automatically updates itself from a central server if a new
version is available; new features can therefore be implemented without
the need for a site visit

Specific Site Blocking
Specific URLs may be blocked by the Browser, if you wish to prevent
certain sites from being visited.

Banner
The Browser may be configured so that a scrolling text banner is shown
on-screen at all times. This banner is clickable and can then direct the
user to any URL.

Disclaimer
The Browser may be configured to display a disclaimer dialog at the
beginning of each connection, if this is required for legal reasons.

Help Button
The help button may be configured to give contact details for your own IT
helpline, therefore giving users a quick and easy way to get in touch if
there are problems with the kiosk.

Connectivity Monitor
The Browser incorporates connectivity monitoring technology, which ensures
that if the connection to the ISP is interrupted for some reason, the
Browser and/or PC can easily be re-started via a series of simple dialogs.

Feedback
The Browser can optionally make a record of all URLs visited, and report
this back to the Administrator for subsequent analysis.

Administrator Module
The Kiosk Administrator program may be run from multiple 'head office'
locations. It shows:

• The latest status of all deployed kiosks
• URLs visited by the kiosks
• Other usage data

Content Filtering Via Optional Proxy Server
The kiosk may be configured to block sites based on their content. The
browser can be optionally set to connect to the Internet via a third-party
proxy server, utilising the largest categorised URL database in the world,
with more than 50 million URLs organised into more than 40 specific
categories (Adults Only, Hate/Discrimination, Illegal, Pornography, Sex,
Violence, Alcohol, Chat, etc).

Privacy
There is complete privacy between one user and the next. At the end of a
session, the Browser clears out Temporary Internet Files and Cookies. A
user cannot therefore see which websites the previous user visited.

Time synchronisation
The browser automatically checks the PC's date and time every day, and
updates it if the PC clock is running fast or slow

On-Line Diagnostics
If there is a problem with the kiosk software or operating system, the
Browser has an FTP mode which enables Virtual9 to connect to the machine
and take remedial action. Files may be uploaded or downloaded, and the
kiosk may be re-booted whilst in FTP mode.