FiPass Partners with Secure Computing and Launches New Managed Authentication Service

Business Wire, August 28, 2001

Business Editors/Technology Writers

NEWBURYPORT, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2001

FiPass Creates a Platform to Enable Identity Verification of Anyone,

Anywhere Across Multiple Web Sites Via a Single Token

FiPass today announced a partnership with Secure Computing (NASDAQ:SCUR) to integrate SafeWord(TM) authentication software and hardware tokens as part of a managed authentication service offering. FiPass enables companies that become FiPass Secured Sites (FSSs) to offer their customers a strengthened layer of security to guard against identity theft and the potential for unauthorized access to online accounts, transactions, and personal data. The FiPass service gives end users the convenience of using a single token to access multiple Web sites. Any online business can operate in the FSS community with a common platform of strong, two-factor authentication. The platform is seamlessly integrated into a site's existing security systems, thereby strengthening those systems rather than replacing them. These Internet-based companies benefit from the prevention of online fraud due to "cracking" of customer passwords.

Approximately eight million people at over 6,000 corporations and government agencies have used token-based authentication technology successfully for over 20 years. FiPass brings the same proven technology to the Internet for the benefit of companies and their customers, enabling users to access any site utilizing the FiPass service, via a single token.

"I've been a publisher in the technology business for over two decades and we've reported extensively on the increase of identity theft leading to fraud," states Joe Levy, CEO and President of CXO Media Inc., whose publications include CIO Magazine and Darwin Magazine. Levy added, "It's absolutely the right time for FiPass to be offering their authentication service and I strongly suggest that any online business should become a FiPass Secured Site."

Our partnership with FiPass is very strategic to Secure Computing as it extends the availability of strong authentication from organizations to consumers," said Carr Biggerstaff, Senior Vice President at Secure Computing. "With SafeWord, FiPass provides consumers with the ability to gain secure, authenticated access to a multitude of e-commerce services with a single FiPass token."

SafeWord brings strong AAA (authentication, authorization and accountability) to e-business enterprises in Fortune 500 companies spanning a wide spectrum of industries, including health care, finance, utilities and federal, state and local government. SafeWord's one-time, dynamic passwords provide highly secure, strong user authentication for secure access to applications, Web servers and network resources. With SafeWord authorization, administrators can control each user's access based on the user's needs.

Richard Stiennon, a senior analyst for market research firm Gartner, added, "Security services such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and virus scanning have already started to "move into the cloud," in other words become network based services. It is a natural evolution for strong authentication to become a cloud based service."

FiPass Founder and CEO, Sean Brennan, noted, "The growing trend in the online world involves issues of security and identity verification. We are thrilled that FiPass could lead the way in the evolution of authentication through the development of our Web-based platform." Brennan added, "One-time passcode tokens have a proven history of protecting employees at their given corporations. Today, with the growth of the Internet, it's imperative to expand this time-tested technology through FiPass, enabling companies to offer the benefits of two-factor authentication to their customers." Brennan concluded, "We selected Secure Computing because of their superior software and token technology, which includes unlimited scalability."

About FiPass

FiPass is an authentication management service specializing in providing strong two-factor authentication, i.e., online identity verification. The FiPass authentication process is simple, easy-to-use, and already proven to be highly effective for authentication within corporate and government intranets and extranets. Our mission is to create a universal platform for verifying the identity of anyone, anywhere, across multiple Web sites; with a single token. Organizations that offer this online identity verification system to customers become "FiPass Secured Sites," immediately differentiating themselves from their competition as vigilant about protecting their customers' accounts. FiPass is located in Newburyport, MA. For more information, visit the FiPass Web site at: www.fipass.com

About Secure Computing

Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Secure Computing Corporation (NASDAQ: SCUR) is a leading provider of enterprise access control solutions. Secure Computing software products and services control access to applications and networks based on user authentication and authorization to market-leading VPNs, firewalls, Web servers and embedded devices. Secure Computing's worldwide partners and customer base are counted among the Fortune 50 in financial services, healthcare, telecom, communications, manufacturing, technology and Internet service providers, as well as some of the largest agencies of the United States government. For more information visit the Secure Computing Web site at: www.securecomputing.com.