Atheros Communications Takes
the Hassle Out of Security Setups with JumpStart for Wireless™
Simple Software Solution Offers the
Highest WLAN Security Available Today
2005 INTERNATIONAL CES, LAS VEGAS,
Jan. 6, 2005—Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading
developer of advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced JumpStart
for Wireless™, the easiest way for consumers and SOHO users to install,
configure and secure a wireless network. With JumpStart, users can set up full
WLAN security for a new network in just three mouse clicks, while providing the
industry’s highest level of personal wireless security, from device
authentication to encryption.
“Unsecured wireless networks are one of the fastest growing
exposures in homes today because enabling security is simply too difficult for
most homeowners,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst for the Enderle
Group. “Because the potential for these wireless exposures includes identity
theft and the loss of critical personal information, the wireless industry must
step up and mitigate this exposure. With JumpStart for Wireless, Atheros is
stepping up to the ease of use requirement and helping to address this critical
security need.”
“Concerns about security still keep some consumers from
buying wireless LAN equipment,” said Craig Barratt, president and chief
executive officer of Atheros Communications. “That’s a shame because good
security is not difficult to achieve using today’s standard protocols. The only
difficult aspect of security is setting it up, and JumpStart eliminates that
difficulty. As more devices connect to the home wireless network, easy product
installation and security setup are imperative for consumers, especially
wireless LAN novices.”
Wireless LAN technology is now pushing beyond traditional
data networking devices and into products such as wireless-enabled printers,
media routers, TVs and other personal media devices. JumpStart security protects
these devices and will make it easy for a consumer to add them to home networks,
even though many such products lack a display or direct user interface
(“headless” devices).
JumpStart security coverage
JumpStart features four layers of protection with a
security step at virtually every point in the authentication and configuration
process to eliminate potential security vulnerabilities. From the user’s point
of view, this sophisticated configuration process involves only a few mouse
clicks and other simple actions that are a seamless part of device installation.
At the most basic layer of the JumpStart security
configuration process, the user visually authenticates the wireless network
connection by observing a flashing LED on the wireless access point or broadband
router. This authentication assures that some other (rogue) access point cannot
hijack the wireless connection. Next JumpStart creates an encryption key using
the Diffie-Hellman protocol, which has long been at the heart of highly secure
web-based e-commerce facilities such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL).
Additionally, JumpStart self-negotiates to the highest security capability of
each device in the network and provides support for Advanced Encryption Standard
(AES) encryption and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) automatically. Finally,
the user creates a password to provide secure network access for configuring and
adding new devices in the wireless network.
Other wireless security offerings—even recent ones from
major vendors—leave users vulnerable to attack. JumpStart is the only solution
available with four layers of security based on industry standards. It is the
only solution designed to assure compatibility with devices based on wireless
chipsets that use different configuration and security features. Specifically,
JumpStart supports Microsoft Wireless Zero Configuration and Windows Connect Now
profile management tools. Similarly, JumpStart will enable transparent
interoperability with a complete range of clients, including Intel Centrino.
To ensure interoperability and ease of use, Atheros
implemented JumpStart in close collaboration with systems-level customers.
D-Link Systems, Inc. was particularly instrumental in assisting with refinement
of the JumpStart implementation, and D-Link is the first Atheros customer to
introduce a new product that features the JumpStart for Wireless technology. The
JumpStart software is easy to integrate into a variety of home and SOHO products
by PC OEMs, retail card and access-point vendors, and consumer electronics
manufacturers.
JumpStart is supported in all of Atheros’ WLAN chipsets,
from the AR5001 through AR5006 families.
About Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a leading developer of
semiconductor system solutions for wireless communications products. Atheros
combines its wireless systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency
(RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly
integrated chipsets that are manufacturable on low-cost, standard complementary
metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is being used by
a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer and networking
equipment manufacturers. For more information, visit
www.atheros.com or send email to
info@atheros.com
# # #
Atheros, the Atheros logo and JumpStart for
Wireless are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks
mentioned in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Except for the historical information
contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including
statements regarding the features, performance and benefits of Atheros’
JumpStart for Wireless solution and the potential applications of JumpStart; and
the expected market trend towards more types of devices integrating WLAN
technology, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially, including, but not limited to, difficulties in the development of
new products and upgraded products, including JumpStart; unforeseen problems in
the performance and integration of JumpStart with various WLAN devices upon
broad deployment of JumpStart; whether JumpStart will be successfully
interoperable and compatible with devices that use configuration and security
features and WLAN chips other than Atheros’; whether customers will find
JumpStart easy to configure and install; and other risks detailed in Atheros’
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 as filed
with the SEC and in other reports filed with the SEC by Atheros from time to
time. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Atheros
disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Cheryl Patstone, 408-773-5344,
cheryl@atheros.com or Greg Wood, A&R Partners, 650-762-2838,
gwood@arpartners.com.
