ODS Networks Announces ''Security with Privacy'' Solution for the Federal Intrusion Detection Network.

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 31, 1999--

--Invention of Cyber Behavioral Profiling: Detects Unauthorized

Access Without Invading Personal Privacy--

ODS Networks, Inc., (Nasdaq:ODSI), today announced a solution for some of the more difficult technical and privacy protection aspects of the proposed Federal Intrusion Detection Network (FIDNET).

More than any other nation, America is dependent upon its cyberspace. Attacks upon the Nation's cyberspace could crash electrical power grids, telephone networks, transportation systems, and financial institutions. All of these critical functions are directed by computer controls over vast information systems networks.

America's national information infrastructure has been built relatively quickly over the last decade, without adequate concern for security or adequate protection against attack by a sophisticated enemy. Those who seek to challenge America may now prefer to attack these computer-controlled systems rather than challenge it exclusively with bombs and bullets.

The FIDNET initiative is one component of a proposed plan to defend and respond to cyber attacks on the Nation's critical information systems infrastructure. FIDNET is far-reaching and intended to thwart malicious attacks as well as improper employee and outsider access into the confidential information held by many branches of government.

Recently, the FIDNET initiative has come under severe attack by proponents of privacy protection. Critics are concerned about citizens being monitored because of the large potential for invasion of privacy. They wonder openly if the cure might be worse than the hackers.

ODS Networks has developed the only security product available today that uses behavior profiling to detect unauthorized data access, fraud and theft, without the need for creating any individual personal records which could be used to invade personal privacy.

A major shortcoming in most security products today is the inability to detect misuse of legitimate access privileges. Although rules-based solutions like firewalls and intrusion detection systems are critical for system protection, they do not provide a profile or history on an attacker, since they rely on fixed rules and each crime is different from the last. A behavior profiler builds mathematical models of behavior patterns for each person, group, software application, and server. Subtle changes in patterns of behavior are detected, not by humans pouring over confidential records, but instead by machine algorithms which protect the confidentiality of all citizens' private activities. Thus, the ODS Networks solution identifies anomalous activity and alerts authorities that someone is acting differently from others, or is acting differently from their own historical norms.

"The Internet and other public computer networks are kind of like the wild west," commented Billy Austin, vice president of marketing for ODS Networks. "Without some oversight, you have the outlaws in control. The challenge is to make the networks safe without creating a cyber-police state, where all exercises of liberty are recorded and analyzed."

ODS Networks currently offers the first implementation of a viable behavior profiling solution. ODS Networks believes that identifying anomalous activity through automated behavior profiling addresses the requirement for security without undermining civil liberties. The behavior profiling system scales well to solutions as large as the whole national infrastructure, while alerting authorities to suspicious behavior at all levels.

"Our research into behavior profiling has resulted in a solution which is right in line with the goals of FIDNET," said G. Ward Paxton, chief executive officer of ODS Networks. "We are committed to a family of products that will push the envelope for enterprise and network security, recognizing the challenges of maximum protection of assets while honoring the privacy of the public."

More details on solutions utilizing the new field of behavior profiling will be unveiled at the upcoming Networld+Interop show in Atlanta, September 13-17.

ODS Networks is a global provider of data and network security solutions. ODS Networks' products are used by the U.S. Government and private and public companies worldwide. ODS Networks provides leading-edge software and hardware solutions that address the network's most demanding bandwidth and security challenges. More information on ODS Networks is available at http://www.ods.com.

ODS is a registered trademark of ODS Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.