Interlink Networks Adds New Security Capability to Promote Ease-of-Use and Cost Effectiveness in Enterprise Wireless LANs; Secure.XS security software supports SPEKE strong password authentication

Interlink Networks today announced another first in wireless LAN security with its upcoming release of Secure.XS, which introduces strong password authentication for more cost effective, easier to use, wireless LAN security.

Interlink Networks, a leading developer of network security and access control software, today announced another first in wireless LAN security with its upcoming release of Secure.XS, which introduces strong password authentication for more cost effective, easier to use, wireless LAN security.

Secure.XS will deploy SPEKE (TM) (Simple Protocol for Exponential Key Exchange) -- an improved strong password authentication method for securing wireless LAN networks. SPEKE is faster and easier to deploy than other authentication methods used in wireless LAN networking because it removes the need for digital certificates at both the client and server side of the network. Managing certificates is a complex process, one not favored by enterprise IT managers. SPEKE avoids this by using cryptography to generate a mutually-authenticated session key based on a small easy-to-remember password. The key is impervious to password sniffing and both on-line and off-line dictionary attacks, which are general network security concerns.

"Interlink will be the first to market with strong password wireless security, and the broadest range of wireless security options in the industry," said Mike Klein, President and CEO of Interlink Networks. "We continue to evolve our award-winning Secure.XS software to make wireless security less complex, easier to support, and lower cost. Strong password authentication adds a very secure, very easy to use option to Secure.XS, in addition to the certificate-based protocols such as TLS and PEAP."

Interlink Networks Secure.XS software forces user authentication before granting network access, and simplifies network administration by eliminating the need to define security policies in each wireless access point. Secure.XS lets organizations control both wired and wireless access to networks. Secure.XS with SPEKE technology will be available in the first quarter of 2003.

About Interlink Networks
Interlink Networks is a leader in securing 802.11 wireless LAN, mobile, and wired networks. The companys standards-based software blocks intruder access to networks using strong 802.1x authentication, a requirement of the WPA standard. Interlinks offerings range from carrier-class and enterprise level solutions to appliance-ready software - ideal for OEM development designs. Interlink Networks is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For more information, call (734) 821-1200 or visit http://www.interlinknetworks.com.

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