Atheros Wireless LAN Products Receive First Wi-Fi Protected Access -- WPA -- Certification.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NetWorld+Interop 2003 Las Vegas

Booth #6761

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2003

Enterprise-Class and Consumer-Friendly Security with No Firmware

Upgrades or Performance Degradation

Atheros Communications, the leading developer of advanced wireless LAN technology, today announced that its market-leading 802.11a/b/g access point and network adapter reference designs were included in the industry's first group of products to receive Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) certification. WPA is a Wi-Fi Alliance specification for standards-based enhancements that increase encryption and authentication security for wireless LAN systems. Atheros' reference designs have been selected for the test bed for the Wi-Fi Alliance's WPA certification program.

A strong wireless LAN security solution includes both user authentication to limit network access and strong encryption techniques to keep wireless data private. The WPA specification incorporates 802.1x authentication to keep unauthorized users off the wireless network, and encrypts data with either the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) or optionally, with the more robust Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). TKIP is an interim encryption upgrade that patches the flaws in the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption protocol that initially shipped with legacy 802.11b products. AES is the encryption algorithm for enhanced security networks specified by the upcoming IEEE 802.11i wireless LAN security standard, and was selected by the international cryptographic community because it is resistant to all known cryptanalysis techniques. Legacy 802.11b products cannot be upgraded to AES because they do not have the CPU horsepower to support its more sophisticated algorithms.

Atheros' WPA architecture includes hardware-based AES and TKIP encryption as well as software-based 802.1x authentication. Competing firmware-based encryption relies on low-end microprocessors that cannot keep up with sophisticated encryption algorithms, thereby slowing down wireless traffic on a network. The Atheros hardware encryption engines provide WPA security with no performance degradation, even with throughput up to 100Mbps (see Atheros' press release titled, "Atheros Delivers 90 Mbps TCP/IP Throughput in High Performance 802.11a/g and 802.11g Wireless LANs").

Atheros' existing customers can get WPA-certified security via a simple software driver upgrade. In contrast, many wireless LAN chipset providers who make claims about "software" upgrades actually rely on embedded firmware requiring the use of special applications for reprogramming the device's flash memory. Performing flash memory updates can be a complex and time-intensive process that, just as with modem upgrades in the past, can potentially render a device inoperable if not performed correctly.

"Most customers won't sacrifice performance for security if they don't have to, and generally don't have the experience or time to re-flash firmware," said Aaron Vance, industry analyst with Synergy Research Group. "Atheros' Wi-Fi certified WPA implementation fixes the gaping holes associated with WEP and secures wireless networks against hackers -- without sacrificing performance or requiring a risky flash upgrade."

Added Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros, "WPA addresses the needs of both enterprise IT managers and home users who want strong encryption and authentication. As a result of `war driving' incidents and the flood of stories associated with WEP's vulnerabilities, wireless LAN environments are perceived as the `Wild West' of networking. Atheros' WPA solution enables enterprises and consumers to feel confident that wireless LAN products based on our technology will provide maximum security."

With the addition of WPA, Atheros adds to its comprehensive wireless LAN security offering which also includes the "Cisco Compatible" program, draft IEEE 802.11i, and Virtual Private Networks for securing remote access from home offices and public hot spots. Atheros' advanced security solutions are now available in retail products, embedded in notebook PCs, and as part of enterprise class infrastructure solutions.

Visit Atheros at N+I

For more information about Atheros' WPA solution, please visit www.atheros.com or stop by the Atheros booth #6761 at the NetWorld+Interop Conference, April 29-May 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.

Atheros Communications is the leading developer of networking technologies for secure, high-performance wireless local area networks. As the industry innovator and market-share leader in multi-mode wireless solutions compliant with the IEEE 802.11 specifications, Atheros is driving transparent connections among electronic devices in the office, home and on the road. Atheros technology is being used by many of the world's leading wireless equipment manufacturers including Accton, Actiontec, Acrowave Systems, AIRAYA, AirVast Technology, ALPS, Ambit, Askey, ASUS, BenQ, Contec, CyberTAN, Dacom, Delta Networks, D-Link, Gemtek, Gigabyte Technology, Global Sun Tech, HP, IBM, ICOM, Intel, Intermec, I-O Data, Linksys, NEC, NETGEAR, Philips, Proxim, Samsung, Senao, SMC Networks, Sony, Symbol, TDK, TECOM, Toshiba, USI, W2 Networks, Wistron NeWeb, Z-Com and others. For more information, visit www.atheros.com or send email to [e-mail].

Atheros and the Atheros logo are registered trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.