Security start-up gives PC shoulder surfers the cold shoulder

Start-up Oculis Labs says it’s tackling the security problem of computer screen shoulder-surfing in its release of a Windows product that works with a webcam to blur the user’s computer screen when someone approaches.

“If someone looks at the screen, the webcam picks it up and broadcasts it on the screen, and can do that from 15 feet away,” says COO Mark Komisky, regarding the company’s PrivateEye Enterprise software.

The product also has a facial-recognition piece that can be used to automatically blur your computer if you leave it. When you return, the computer screen is again visible.

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The endpoint protection software, which allows for a number of risk-based security settings, can be managed through a Microsoft policy-management snap-in.

Oculis Labs says pricing, based on volume, would typically run anywhere from $35 to $70 per desktop.

The Hunt Valley, Md., company was founded by CEO Bill Anderson (formerly with SafeNet) in late 2007 with angel funding of about $2.5 million. It now has about 10 employees.

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