Globally Renowned Hackers Certify Secure Computing's Sidewinder G2 Defeats Full Spectrum of Malicious Attack Methods

Business Wire, Jan 18, 2005

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- -- Black Hat Consulting finds, "The Sidewinder G2 is by far the sturdiest security system we've ever audited."

Secure Computing Corporation (NASDAQ:SCUR) the experts in securing connections between people, applications, and networks(TM), advertises that the company's Sidewinder G2(R) Security Appliance is "the world's strongest firewall," -- so the company put its claims to the test by engaging a group of professional hackers to bombard the Sidewinder G2 Security Appliance with some of the worst cyber-abuse imaginable. Secure called in Black Hat Consulting -- best known for their key role in the annual DEFCON and Black Hat computer security conferences, one of the largest security testing events in the world. Black Hat Consulting ran a full spectrum of attack methods at the Sidewinder G2 and concluded that, "We mark the Sidewinder G2 Security Appliance as the most stable and reliable gateway security appliance we have tested. The Sidewinder G2 appliance blocked, filtered or ignored the attacker's packets that were transmitted to the internal or external interfaces."

Black Hat Consulting tested Sidewinder G2's resiliency against attacks targeted at all relevant layers of the OSI model (Open System Interconnection). The Sidewinder successfully defended against attacks methodologies across OSI layers 2 though 7, while simpler firewalls can only defend against attacks at lower networking levels up to layer 3. The report is available at http://www.securecomputing.com/goto/blackhat.> The attacks Black Hat launched against the Sidewinder included:

--Worms such as CodeRed and SQL Slammer

--Denial of Service attacks

--Spoofing attacks

--Statistical anomaly attacks

--Information acquisition attacks

--Gratuitous injection attacks

--Session hijacking attacks

--Directory traversal attacks

--Brute force attacks

--Firewall rule-set bypass attacks

--Attacks utilizing binary data in HTTP packets

--UNICODE cross site scripting attacks

--Bounce attacks

"Having successfully penetrated and exploited many systems deemed and marketed as 'secure' over the last several years, some in development, and many already live and publicly accessible, the Sidewinder G2 is the by far the sturdiest system we've audited," the Black Hat report concluded.

"Our Sidewinders protect some of the most secure facilities in the world -- including the majority of the US Government's most security conscious agencies and departments and some of the largest financial institutions in the world. These customers demand the very highest level of protection," said Steve Miller vice president of worldwide marketing for Secure Computing. "That's why we continually push the Sidewinder's defenses to the limit, both internally, and by hiring top experts like Black Hat Consulting to ensure that the Sidewinder G2 Security Appliance remains the world's most secure platform."

Secure Computing's Application Defenses(TM) strategy is at the heart of the multi-layered defense-in-depth design of the Sidewinder G2 Security Appliance. The ability to face and defeat both known and unknown attacks is the strength of the Sidewinder G2 Application Defenses capabilities.

About Secure Computing

Secure Computing (NASDAQ:SCUR) has been securing the connections between people and information for over 20 years. Specializing in delivering solutions that secure these connections, Secure Computing is uniquely qualified to be the global security solutions provider to organizations of all sizes. Our more than 11,000 global customers, supported by a worldwide network of partners, include the majority of the Dow Jones Global 50 Titans and the most prominent organizations in banking, financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing, public utilities, and federal and local governments. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has sales offices worldwide. For more information, see http://www.securecomputing.com.

About Black Hat Consulting

Black Hat Consulting brings world experts together to offer the final word in computer information security. It is no wonder that computer security services are in demand; by its very nature information security is a complex and ever changing beast. Through the Black Hat Briefings, one learns that the threats to your network and information are possible. The Black Hat Training classes demonstrate that the threat is real. Now with Black Hat Consulting, a host of new services are available to help your enterprise make the best use of its technology, without impacting the way you do business. Black Hat Consulting will show your company where its computer security profile lies. Whether in the exposed amateur's Internet, or the protected and well-configured expert's, Black Hat Consulting is ready to provide unique security insight to current and future vulnerabilities in your business.

All trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to Sidewinder G2 and its claim that it is the world's strongest firewall Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are delays in product development, undetected software errors or bugs, competitive pressures, technical difficulties, changes in customer requirements, general economic conditions and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Secure Computing's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.