DigitalPersona Excels in Independent Research Assessment

Performs Flawlessly on Key Metrics in IBG study of Biometric Security Products

January 28, 2003

Redwood City, CA — DigitalPersona announced today that its Fingerprint Authentication System achieved zero percent errors on key measures in a comprehensive, comparative study of biometric security products conducted by the International Biometric Group (IBG), New York, NY. The Company demonstrated zero percent errors on both False Acceptance [a.k.a. False Match] (in which an unauthorized fingerprint is accepted by the system) and False Rejection [a.k.a. False Non-Match] (in which an authorized fingerprint is rejected by the system). In addition, DigitalPersona exhibited outstanding performance with its Failure to Enroll rate [a.k.a FTE] (in which a fingerprint cannot be registered into the system). These measures are crucial to ensuring the highest levels of security and reliability; and are key requirements for any enterprise network authentication system.

"We've worked hard to eliminate false acceptance and failure to enroll problems because they severely limit a product's effectiveness in the field, and IBG's results validate our work," said Vance Bjorn, DigitalPersona's co-founder and chief technology officer. "From day one, we've focused on top performance under real-world conditions for our technology. This is important as DigitalPersona expands into the enterprise to offer network administrators an easy, reliable, and cost-effective biometric solution for server-based network authentication."

IBG is a leading biometric integration and consulting firm, and their latest study is the industry's leading independent comparative test effort. The tests involved products from 11 leading biometrics companies, and emulated real-world conditions in testing the products' ability to enhance security in such applications as enterprise security, border security, and air travel. The full results of the test are commercially available from IBG.

"This report contains practical and necessary information for major technology developers and systems integrators that are seriously considering biometrics," said Dr. Douglas McGovern, test director.

DigitalPersona recently announced a new, improved version of its U.are.U Pro product for enterprise customers, including the new Model 4000 sensor, a small, highly accurate fingerprint sensor that can be used in the office or when telecommuting or working remotely. The Model 4000 sensor gives enterprise users and developers greater flexibility in deploying biometrics solutions that eliminate user passwords

"With our latest release of U.are.U Pro we have added features that enterprise customers have told us they need," said Fabio Righi, CEO. "This includes the ability to authenticate mobile users with the same level of security that they have in the office, and to cost-effectively replace problematic password log-ins with a one-touch biometric solution that is easier to use and far more secure."

In addition to its family of authentication products, DigitalPersona also provides software development kits for enterprise customers that need to create their own fingerprint authentication applications.

Under the terms of the IBG evaluation, DigitalPersona is permitted to provide only limited detail relating to the IBG Round Four Comparative Biometric Testing results. DigitalPersona encourages interested parties to visit http://www.ibgweb.com/reports/public/comparative_biometric_testing.html for details on testing methodology and information on obtaining complete results.

About DigitalPersona

DigitalPersona, developer of the innovative U.are.U biometric security solutions, brings both heightened security and convenience to users. DigitalPersona has developed next generation fingerprint recognition hardware and software technology enabling market-ready solutions. With a user-friendly interface and the highest level of security for corporations, internet, and home, users can now safeguard their digital accounts and information. Based in Redwood City, CA, the company distributes their product through an extensive network of OEM, VAR, reseller, and retail channels and has attracted strategic partnerships with major computer and peripheral manufacturers. Third party developers are also selling the product into medical, legal, finance/banking, retail/pos and access control markets.

DigitalPersona's award-winning U.are.U biometric security solutions include the following: U.are.U Pro is designed for corporate networks and includes desktop and server software to allow companies to confirm employees' identities and protect access to sensitive information, while reducing the high costs associated with password management. U.are.U Online, the first authentication service provider for the internet, allows Internet businesses to provide their customers with more secure and convenient access to accounts and transactions by verifying a user's identity with their fingerprint. U.are.U has received many awards, including PC Magazine Editor's Choice, PC Week Best of Comdex and Network Computing Editor's Choice.