VIA Security Software

The VIA PadLock™ Security Engine is hardware based security technology that provides the latest military-grade encryption and protection with the world's fastest x86 security engine. When enabled by applications, it can provide this technology with little or no impact to the performance of applications being executed.

The VIA software packages available for download on this page provide development tools and examples of VIA PadLock in action.

VIA PadLock Software Development Kit

This API and Programming guide is for use with VIA C5XL/C5P/C5Q/C5J/Nano series processors. The Advanced Cryptography Engine(ACE) in VIA C5P series processors, or the Advanced Cryptography Engine version 2 (ACE2) in VIA C5Q/C5J/Nano series processors, implements the cryptographic functionality. The Random Number Generator (RNG) function in VIA C5XL/C5P/C5Q/C5J/Nano series processors implements the random number generating functionality. The PadLock Hash Engine (PHE) in VIA C5J/Nano series processors implements both SHA-1 algorithm and SHA-256 algorithm. The PadLock Montgomery Multiplier (PMM) in VIA C5Q/C5J series processors implements the Montgomery Multiplication algorithm.

The VIA PadLock SDK is comprised of four groups of APIs, which facilitate the building of security applications for use with VIA C5XL/C5P/C5Q/C5J/Nano series processors. It helps users to make full use of many advanced features in VIA C5 series processors such as RNG, ACE or ACE2, PHE, and PMM in order to enhance the overall performance of their applications. For more details regarding the VIA PadLock Security Suite, please refer to the VIA PadLock Programming Guide.

Download the 391KB file.

VIA AES Benchmark Tool

This is a synthetic AES encryption benchmark for calculating AES encryption speeds through software as well as hardware, although it has to be noted that only computers equipped with a VIA processor based on the C5P core, will be able to utilize the Hardware Encryption benchmark testing. You will need to be running Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP.

This benchmark defines 4 confidentiality modes of operation for use with an underlying symmetric key block cipher algorithm: Electronic Codebook (ECB), Cipher Block Chaining (CBC), Cipher Feedback (CFB), and Output Feedback (OFB). For more information on the benchmark, please read the User Guide contained in the zip file.

Download the 1.47MB file.

VIA Cryptographic Service Provider

The VIA Cryptographic Service Provider(CSP) is a customized cryptographic service provider. It's used to substitute the MS CSP with the same interfaces and functions. It is also designed to enhance the cryptographic performance of the VIA Padlock security engine.

The VIA CSP version 1.2 was based on the VIA C5 series processors and provided the most commonly used functions. The VIA CSP version 1.3 has improved some functions and added support for the 64-bit VIA Nano processor.

The VIA CSP 1.3 supports Windows XP 32 bit and 64 bit and WinCE 5.0 and 6.0. It supports AES, SHA and RSA for the VIA C7 and Nano processors. It mainly uses the VIA Padlock SDK to implement AES, SHA, RSA and random number generation algorithms based on the VIA C7 or Nano processors. If the processor doesn't support an algorithm (for instance, VIA the VIA Nano doesn't support the Montgomery multiplication and the VIA C7 doesn't support partial hash ) it seamlessly uses the MS CSP to implement the same functions.

Download the 1.5MB file.

VIA Java Crypto Service Provider

The VIA Java Cryptography Service Provider (VIA JCP) is a background application that offloads some of the computational process involved in the Java Cryptography Architecture’s AES based cipher and secure random number generator methods to the VIA PadLock Security Engine included within all VIA C7-M and VIA C7 processors. The VIA JCP is compatible with Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.

Download the 1MB file.

VIA PadLock RSA Module

Any system featuring a VIA C7 or C7-M processor and running Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows Server "Longhorn", Windows Server 2003, or Windows 2000 Server, can install this free software. The VIA C7 processor family features a powerful hardware security engine and this module allows Microsoft software to tap into it, offloading some of the public key encryption process. Applications which use Microsoft's pre-defined Cryptographic Application Programming (CPA) and RSA such as Internet Explorer, Outlook and the web server Internet Information Services (ISS) benefit from this, with as much as a 275% speed increase of the RSA verification.

Download the 1.5MB file.

VIA PadLock Tru-Delete Utility

Permanently remove sensitive data that has been previously deleted and help clean up free space on your hard drive. The VIA PadLock Tru-Delete Utility is not only free, it’s open source and works under Linux, Windows 2k or XP and WinCE 4.2!

Download the 5.21MB file.

VIA PadLock VPN utility

The VIA PadLock VPN utility combines IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) and VPN (Virtual Private Network) technology with the powerful AES hardware encryption capabilities of the VIA PadLock ACE to provide an ultra secure method of building VPN topology. The VIA PadLock VPN can be built not only as an embedded VPN gateway or firewall device to implement secure site to site link between two networks, but also as a client/server system to implement secure access between roaming clients and a network.

The VIA PadLock VPN Utility is designed to be used with Linux based operating systems, supporting kernel 2.6 or higher and can only be applied on a VIA processor based system that incorporates the VIA PadLock ACE embedded in the Nehemiah architecture core.

Download the 11.8MB file.

VIA PadLock ZIP Utility

As part of the VIA PadLock Security Initiative, VIA has developed the VIA PadLock ZIP Utility to help secure zipped data. The VIA PadLock ZIP Utility combines advanced file compression with the powerful AES encryption capabilities of the VIA PadLock Advanced Cryptography Engine (ACE), providing users with a secure method of sending or storing sensitive information. The VIA PadLock Zip Utility can be used on its own or in tandem with WinZip™ 9.0. When used with a VIA processor that incorporates the VIA PadLock ACE, VIA PadLock ZIP Utility can carry out encryption/decryption at much higher speeds than pure software based AES encryption techniques. Additionally, the VIA PadLock ACE helps to reduce CPU utilization during AES encryption, leaving system resources to continue with other tasks such as digital entertainment or productivity applications. VIA PadLock Zip works with C3, C7 and C7-M processors.

Download the 456KB file.

VIA StrongBox

Viruses, worms, hacking and identity theft have become an everyday part of computing, with the result that the security of our personal and confidential business information is emerging as the single biggest issue in computing today. Notebook PCs are especially vulnerable, with their easy portability creating a much higher risk of theft and loss. This software empowers users to safely store as much as 40 gigabytes of files in up to ten virtual ‘strongbox’ drives.

This Zip folder contains version 4.1 of the free StrongBox software. It supports the 32 bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. To install the program, please run the .exe file in the internal folder. This Zip folder contains the version that supports 64 bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

This package contains the binary for Kubuntu 6.0.6 and open source codes for other Linux distributions. It supports all VIA C7 CPUs.