News Release

VIA Releases PadLock SDK for Windows and Linux-Based Information Security Software Developers

Easy to use Software Development Kit assists third party developers in integrating support for the VIA PadLock Hardware Security Suite

Taipei, Taiwan, September 10th 2004 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the release of the VIA PadLock SDK, a step by step programming guide designed for third party software developers who want to capitalize on the performance enhancing security features built into feature rich VIA processors.

To combat the increasing reliance on security software programs that draw heavily on PC system resources and hamper overall performance, VIA developed the PadLock Hardware Security Suite to complement software programs by taking on much of the heavy lifting involved with information security applications. Featured in all VIA processors based on the C5P Nehemiah core, the VIA Hardware Security Suite offers quantum-based random number generation with the VIA PadLock RNG (Random Number Generator) and AES encryption at blistering speeds through the VIA PadLock ACE (Advanced Cryptography Engine).

The VIA PadLock SDK is an easy to use utility that simplifies the integration of support for the VIA PadLock Hardware Security Suite. Consisting of a programming guide, source code for both Microsoft® Windows® and Linux operating systems, and numerous sample programs for reference purposes, the VIA PadLock SDK also acts as a source for pieces of code that developers can directly copy into other programs.

“The need for better information security is driving unprecedented innovation in security software that can really take advantage of the VIA PadLock Hardware Security Suite,” said Justin Hsu, Executive Assistant to the President, VIA Technologies, Inc. “We aim to make it as simple as possible for our partners to include support for the VIA PadLock security features; the VIA PadLock SDK will be a useful tool for novice and experienced programmers alike.”

The VIA PadLock SDK is available from OpenFoundry.org and VIAArena.com. As part of the VIA PadLock Software Security Suite, VIA also provides the VIA PadLock ZIP utility and accompanying source code as a free download for developers who wish to incorporate the utility into existing programs or customize the it to meet their individual needs.

Additional programming resources for the VIA PadLock Hardware Security Suite, such as the VIA PadLock RNG and VIA PadLock ACE programming guides developed by Centaur Technologies, can be found on the VIA website.

About the VIA PadLock Security Initiative
Comprising the VIA PadLock Hardware Security Suite and VIA PadLock Software Security Suite, the VIA PadLock Security Initiative is focused on providing key hardware and application level security building blocks that can be easily integrated into any computing and communications infrastructure.

The VIA PadLock Hardware Security Suite is integrated into VIA C5P Nehemiah core processors and features the VIA PadLock RNG for high quality key generation and the VIA PadLock ACE (Advanced Encryption Engine) for high speed performance of the US government approved Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The VIA PadLock Software Security Suite consists of the VIA PadLock SDK, the VIA PadLock ZIP utility and source code and the VIA PadLock Tru-Delete utility and source code.

More information on the VIA PadLock Security Initiative may be found at the VIA website: http://www.via.com.tw/en/padlock/padlock_initiative.jsp.

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