New Virginia Software Firm Fills Gap in Market

Fairfax, Virginia, March 15, 2001 – Trust Digital LLC, a recently formed subsidiary of Applied Technologies, Inc. announced that it would formally release the first enterprise capable data security product for PDA handheld devices at the FOSE trade show in Washington, DC. The show runs March 20-22, 2001 at the Convention Center.

The new product, PDASecure, secures handheld devices that use the Palm Operating System (OS). The product uses the newly established Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) based on the Rijndael or “Rain Doll” algorithm selected in a competition by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The AES replaces the older DES standard now used by the U.S. Government, the financial services industry and others.

“PDASecureÔ offers the first capability of enterprise-based access control and encryption technology for PDA devices.” Said Kevin Shahbazi, Assistant VP of Marketing for Trust Digital. “We elected to develop a product that protected not only the handheld itself, but the computer or network to which it may be linked. Many consider wireless PDA’s in particular to be unsecured gateways into entire enterprises. Our approach solves that problem.”

PDASecure allows individuals as well as network administrators tools to insure that data encrypted on such devices cannot be copied or “beamed” to another system that could read it. Only the password protected device itself or the network it is connected to have the key to unscramble it. Concerns about lost or stolen PDA’s that compromise data or provide access to other systems can be overcome.

“NIST selected the Rijndael algorithm for AES precisely because it was efficient and non-intrusive when used on the new generation of devices like handhelds and smart phones.” Kevin Shahbazi went on to say. “Many people avoid installing encryption security software to protect their data because of the concern it slows down their system. AES operates in the background with no noticeable affect on performance.”

These new products are complementary to other security software for virus protection and firewalls, providing an additional layer of protection to any system by protecting the most valuable asset, the data. An email address book that is encrypted in the background, for example, cannot be read by self-replicating “I Love You”-style viruses or worms which stops them from proliferating. The company plans to have all of its products available through Value Added Resellers, distributors, retailers and government contract holders.

About Trust Digital LLC and Applied Technologies, Inc. (ATI)
Trust Digital LLC was formed as a subsidiary to market and support PDASecureÔ and other data security products developed over a two year period by its parent, Applied Technologies, Inc. (ATI) of Fairfax, Virginia. ATI has over ten years of expertise in network security and is a privately held Value-Added Reseller of GoldMine Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software that also develops third party products as an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) for CRM vendors. ATI recently won an award from GoldMine as “Marketer of the Year” and “ISV of the Year” in 2000. Trust Digital is currently co-located with ATI, which is based in Fairfax, Virginia. Information on PDASecureÔ is available at www.trustdigital.com or by calling (703) 246-9198, FAX (703) 246-9496.

Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. Certain statements that are not historical facts including certain statements made over the course of this document may be forward-looking in nature. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance and achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements implied by such forward-looking statements.