Cylink Secures Bluetooth Wireless Networking Technology.

Business Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2000

Cylink's SAFER+ Algorithm Provides User Authentication 

for Emerging Wireless Networking Standard

Secure e-business pioneer Cylink Corporation (Nasdaq:CYLK) today announced that its SAFER+(TM) encryption algorithm is being used for user authentication within Bluetooth(TM), a protocol that is rapidly growing in use for wireless communications 

More than 1,700 companies support the Bluetooth protocol. With Bluetooth-enabled devices, a wireless personal area network (PAN) for mobile commerce can easily be created using peripheral devices, notebooks or handheld computers, smart telephones, and even vending machines. The SAFER+ algorithm is one section of the Bluetooth protocol. The algorithm enables one user to send a test message to a recipient for encryption and compare the returned encrypted message with his own encryption of the test message. A perfect match verifies the recipient's authenticity.

"The strength of Bluetooth-enabled products is that they automatically sync up with all other Bluetooth devices within 10 yards to provide on-the-fly networking and communications," said Paul Mason, group vice president of Infrastructure Software Research for IDC. "However, this makes all data on the products - including the most sensitive information - freely available to other Bluetooth users. The SAFER+ algorithm provides the authentication critical to keeping this information secure."

The announcement coincides with the expiration of the patent covering the algorithm popularly known as RSA. That patent expiration is expected to bring benefits similar to those the security industry saw when Cylink released its SAFER algorithm into the public domain in 1993.

Not long after Cylink's release of the enhanced SAFER+ algorithm in 1998, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), an alliance of leading telecommunications, computing, and network companies including 3Com, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, began developing its short-range wireless networking specification using the algorithm. SAFER+ is a royalty-free, non-proprietary enhancement of the SAFER algorithm with improved performance and increased security.

The RSA algorithm's entry into the public domain is expected to lead to similar enhancements and help speed the adoption of encryption standards that are critical to the increased interoperability of network security devices.

"Once again, Cylink is delighted to offer breakthrough technology that protects the integrity of communications for people and businesses," said Peter Slocum, vice president of Engineering at Cylink. "SAFER+ is the most recent example of our policy of developing cryptographic solutions for practical business problems, including an array of public key-based solutions, and triple-DES, the industry standard for strong security."

Since the SAFER algorithm's 1993 release at the Fast Software Encryption Conference in the United Kingdom, it has withstood the scrutiny of the world's top crypto-analysts. SAFER+ was built on the proven track record of SAFER and is designed to meet the next generation of security requirements. It was developed by an international team of world-class cryptographers, led by Professor James Massey of ETH, Zurich, and funded by Cylink.

SAFER+ Algorithm Now Available on Cylink's Web Site

The SAFER+ algorithm and related information is now available for download from the Resource Library of Cylink's web site: http://www.cylink.com.

About Cylink Corporation

Cylink Corporation develops, markets and supports a comprehensive family of secure e-business solutions. Founded in 1983, the Company was the first created to market security solutions that protect communications with public key cryptography. Cylink and its wholly owned subsidiaries serve Fortune 500 companies, multinational financial institutions, and government agencies worldwide. For more information, visit the Company's web site at http://www.cylink.com.

Some of the matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and the effect on Cylink's business is not assured. Forward-looking statements include the suggestion that the Bluetooth protocol will continue to grow in use, that the SAFER algorithm will continue to be cryptographically secure, and the prediction that the expiration of the RSA patent will lead to similar opportunities in the encryption field. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include changes in the market for wireless devices and/or encryption technology, changes in the regulatory environment affecting the wireless or encryption markets, competitive factors, including but not limited to the entry of large, well-capitalized companies, the possible introduction of new technologies, new encryption algorithms, and new methods of attacks on encryption algorithms, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the company's SEC reports, including but not limited to the report on Form 10-K and the Annual Report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1999 and its reports on Form 10-Q.

Note to Editors: Cylink is a registered trademark of Cylink Corp. SAFER+ is a trademark of Cylink Corp. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.