SuSE upgrades firewall with VPN support

German Linux seller SuSE has expanded its firewall software, which protects computers against intrusion, with a new feature to support encrypted communication channels called virtual private networks (VPNs). The new version costs $1,499; the standard version without VPN support costs $1,149.

SuSE's firewall product boots from a CD-ROM, with installation particulars stored on a write-protected floppy disk, making it impossible for outside attackers to change the original configuration of the security system.