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 at: http//rt.openfoundry.org/Foundry/Project/Download/index.html?Queue=193 and on VIA Arena (http://www.viaarena.com).

As part of the VIA PadLock Software Security Suite (http://www.via.com.tw/en/padlock/padlock_software.jsp), VIA also provides the VIA PadLock ZIP (http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=406) 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 at: http://www.via.com.tw/en/viac3/c3.jsp.