Astaro Announces New Astaro Secure Client for Virtual Private Networks

BURLINGTON, Mass. – October 18, 2004 – Astaro (www.astaro.com), developer of the most popular open source-based network security product protecting 20,000 networks in 60 countries, today announced Astaro Secure Client, a new client for Virtual Private Networks (VPN) that secures email and network communications between mobile workers and their headquarters offices.

A major upgrade to the existing Astaro IPSec Client, Astaro Secure Client combines an advanced IPSec VPN client offering superior encryption and authentication with a personal firewall and an integrated dialer. It allows mobile workers, home offices, and individual PCs to communicate securely and reliably over the Internet with central offices.

Astaro Secure Client supports advanced encryption algorithms, strong authentication methods (including smart cards, USB tokens and biometric devices), and a choice of security and networking protocols. The personal firewall prevents hackers from taking control of the remote system and creating a “backdoor” into the organization’s central network.

Astaro Secure Client is fully compatible with the VPN gateway in Astaro Security Linux and a wide variety of other VPN gateways. It runs on Microsoft Windows XP SP2, as well as Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 or SP5, Windows 2000, and Windows ME.

“The new Astaro Secure Client is an example of how Astaro continues to upgrade the technology available to our customers,” said Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro. “It is an ideal product for organizations that want very high levels of security, including sophisticated encryption and two-factor authentication.”

Astaro Secure Client is based on technology from NCP (www.ncp.de), a leading provider of software products for secure communications over public networks.

Pricing and Availability

Licenses for Astaro Secure Client start at €90 or $90 per client. Trade-in programs are available for customers who have purchased the Astaro IPSec Client. Astaro Secure Client is available immediately through Astaro’s worldwide network of solutions partners.

Older VPN Client Discontinued

Astaro also announced that as of this date it will discontinue sales of the Astaro IPSec Client software package.

About Astaro

Astaro develops Astaro Security Linux, a gateway security product that provides six critical security applications - firewall, VPN gateway, anti-virus, intrusion protection, spam filtering and content filtering - fully integrated on a single management platform. The company was founded in January 2000 and today is co-headquartered in Burlington, Mass. and Karlsruhe, Germany. Astaro's software has won numerous industry awards, and is protecting over 20,000 networks in 60 countries, including such companies as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Los Alamos National Labs, Stanford University and Watsco, Inc. Astaro Security Linux is distributed by a worldwide network of 350 solutions partners who offer local support and services. [HYPERLINK@www.astaro.com]

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All trademarks are owned by their respective companies.

U.S. Press Contact: Victor Cruz, Astaro,+1 508 785 1590, [e-mail:vcruz@astaro.com]