Asier Technology Corporation Announces 37,000-Bit Strong Encryption.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2002

60 Megabit Per Second and Faster Throughput Rates, Hierarchical Keys,

and Non-Repeating, Non-Patterning Cipher-Text

Asier Technology Corporation introduces strong encryption technology that can be implemented and deployed as software for desktops, laptops, PDAs, servers, mainframes or networks, or embedded in cell phones, smart cards, routers and switches. Asier encryption falls into three classes: Asier30/S(TM) -- 37,000-bit fast streaming encryption, Asier 70/S(TM) -- 71,000-bit enhanced security streaming encryption, and Asier 130/S(TM) -- 137,000-bit extreme streaming encryption.

"Asier is in the business of licensing some of the strongest and fastest encryption currently known," said Patrick Robinson, Asier's President and COO. "I think it's safe to say that in the world of encryption engines, Asier has the speed of a Ferrari, the reliability of a Honda and gets the mileage of a motorcycle. At the same time, it's small enough to fit in a PDA. We're exploring options with various partners to install Asier's encryption in laptops, databases, cell phones, video equipment, Web sites and other devices."

For comparison, Secure Socket Layer (SSL), the World Wide Web's secure communication protocol, features a 128-bit key size, while the minimum key size recommended by RSA is 768-bit.

Data secured with Asier's encryption is a hacker's worst nightmare. None of the known methods of attack work on data protected by Asier. Asier creates a non-patterning, non-repeating cipher-text. That means it represents every character of every message differently every time it is encrypted, much like a one-time pad. Further, it's not a prime-number based system and uses a minimal amount of computing power.

"Public confidence in secure on-line transactions remains low, resulting in incalculable revenues lost to business," stated Robinson. "And the increase of 'hacker schools and tools' brings the threat environment to an all-time high."

Kevin Henson, VP Strategic Development and Chief Scientist, presented at an IEEE conference in Richardson, Texas. Richard Jay Linzy, Director, Advanced Network Solutions, at EngineX Networks, introduced Henson as "easily included in the top ten known cryptographers."

"I had the pleasure of meeting Kevin prior to our conference presentation and was politely skeptical when he told me about Asier's encryption technology," said Linzy. "I was amazed and frustrated at the fact that I made no headway at all in 48 hours working to disprove all, or even some, of his claims."

How the Asier encryption engine is implemented and what the system requirements are depends largely on the business and operational needs of the customer. For example, Asier introduces a new concept -- a hierarchical key. Access to information can be based on departmental, organizational, or chain-of-command structures. Or a company can grant access to data based on executive, managerial or field structures.

Asier encryption can be integrated with Word, Outlook and other Windows applications and is easy to incorporate into existing systems. It can be used on Virtual Private Networks (VPN), with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and can be implemented in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chips and smart cards.

With Asier, encryption is no longer the bottleneck in processing, transmitting, or receiving data. Asier's encryption throughput on a Pentium III 650 running Windows NT exceeds 60 megabits per second with decrypt rates three times faster than encryption rates...that's the equivalent of 156 simultaneous DSL connections or 1071 56K modem connections.

"Asier's goal is to eliminate unwanted theft of private data. With electronic crime currently estimated at 10 billion dollars annually, some type of effective data protection was bound to evolve," Robinson stated. "We're pleased to announce Asier's encryption product and agree with Tom Ridge, Director of Homeland Security, that 'staying steps ahead of hackers' is an important issue in the years ahead."

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