Rite Aid Deploys DigitalPersona Fingerprint Authentication Systems for its 3,400 Nationwide Stores

March 29, 2004

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., and CAMP HILL, Pa. — DigitalPersona®, Inc. today announced that Rite Aid Corp. is in the midst of fully deploying DigitalPersona's fingerprint authentication system to its approximately 3,400 stores nationwide. Rite Aid pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can now use DigitalPersona technology to sign on to Rite Aid's new pharmacy dispensing system. Rite Aid is the first U.S. pharmacy chain to use fingerprint recognition technology to augment existing security and privacy policies. In total, more than 10,000 DigitalPersona systems will be used daily by over 30,000 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

"Rite Aid has always been proud to offer its customers a state-of-the-art prescription fulfillment system, ensuring the highest level of customer privacy and prescription accuracy," said Don Davis, CIO/Senior Vice President of Information Services, Rite Aid. "Enhancing our system with DigitalPersona's technology allows even greater speed, accuracy and security to better serve our customers."

Organizations in most industries, including pharmaceutical, have long relied on passwords for authentication and security. Frequent password changes have caused difficulties for system users, generating frequent, costly and productivity-robbing calls to the Help Desk for assistance. A simple touch of a finger can now replace the need to type in a password every time a system user needs to access sensitive information or authenticate a request. The pains and vulnerabilities of lost, forgotten, shared and expired passwords have been eliminated. Sensitive information is well secured and the impact of security procedures on operational efficiency has been significantly reduced.

"This deployment demonstrates that fingerprint recognition technology has become a practical and affordable solution where secure, convenient and auditable access is of paramount importance," said Fabio Righi, president and CEO of DigitalPersona. "It demonstrates the business value and technology superiority of our tightly integrated hardware and software solutions."

About DigitalPersona

DigitalPersona is the leading provider of fingerprint recognition systems for enterprise and mainstream computing. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., DigitalPersona designs, manufactures and sells end-to-end solutions for the enterprise, developer and consumer/OEM markets. DigitalPersona has strategic relationships with market-making manufacturers and re-sellers including Intel® Corporation, Dell® Inc., Gateway®, GTSI® Corp., Chicony Electronics Co., and Darfon Electronics Corp. DigitalPersona® Pro, the company's flagship password automation solution for enterprise authentication, is used by leading organizations such as The U.S. Department of Defense, Cargill®, Telme®, The United Bankers' Bank and Sutter Health/CPMC. Further information is available at www.digitalpersona.com

About Rite Aid

Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with annual revenues of more than $16.5 billion. Rite Aid currently operates approximately 3,400 stores in 28 states and the District of Columbia. Further information is available at www.riteaid.com