Purewire is a web security company that serves business users. But now it's announcing a new consumer service that helps users screen through bad web sites and check the identities of people they don't know.
Dubbed Purewire Trust, the service handles three major threats: Potentially malicious people, unsafe places on the web, and potentially dangerous things like Java applications. With Purewire Trust, you simply type in someone's email address to collect a bunch of information about them.
With the email search function, you can find out if an eBay user has a good reputation, or who your kids are befriending online, or if a job applicant is being honest, said Paul Judge, chief technology officer and co-founder (pictured right) of the Atlanta-based company. The search results show the person's reputation and what social networks they have joined, including Facebook and MySpace. It then lists the pages so that you can view them, if privacy settings have not been activated.
The company was founded in November 2007. It raised $1 million from its co-founders, raised $3 million from friends and family, and is in the process of raising a $10 million round. The company has 40 employees. At the moment, Purewire makes money only from its web security business. It is preparing to launch a beta of the consumer site today.
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