HIFN HI/FN (MM)

Dr. Doug Whiting, Recognized Industry Expert, Lends Time and Expertise in Development of New Hash Algorithm LOS GATOS, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hifn(TM) (NASDAQ:HIFN), the catalyst behind storage and networking innovation, today announced that a team of top cryptography experts, including the company's Chief Scientist, has submitted its proposal for a next-generation secure hash algorithm standard in a competition sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070723/CLM036LOGO) The new algorithm proposed -- designated Skein -- was designed by a group of highly-experienced cryptographic experts from academia and industry, with expertise in cryptography, security analysis, software, chip design, and implementation of real-world cryptographic systems. This breadth of knowledge allowed them to create a balanced design that works well in all environments. The development team included Hifn Chief Scientist Dr. Doug Whiting, who wrote the Skein source code for the NIST competition, as well as prominent security expert Bruce Schneier and other well-known cryptographers from Microsoft, Intel, UC San Diego, the University of Washington, PGP and Bauhaus-University Weimar. "The Skein proposal represents a balanced approach in the development of the next generation hash algorithm," said Dr. Whiting. "As members of this team, we took into account our collective experience, which includes work on the NIST AES finalist algorithm Twofish, and expectations of what and how this new hash algorithm could be used and tested. From that we designed the new algorithm, which we believe delivers a well balanced solution for security, performance, and flexibility." The NIST competition to develop a next-generation hash standard is based on recent discoveries of weaknesses and potential vulnerabilities in existing hash algorithms. NIST is now reviewing the competition proposals and is expected to select one as the new SHA-3 hash algorithm by 2012. NIST intends that SHA-3 will specify an unclassified, publicly disclosed algorithm(s), which is available worldwide without royalties or other intellectual property restrictions, and is capable of protecting sensitive information for decades. For more information on the NIST competition please visit their website at http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/ST/hash/sha-3/index.html, and for specific information about the Skein proposal please visit http://www.schneier.com/skein.html. About Hifn Hifn (NASDAQ:HIFN) delivers the key OEM ingredients for 21st century storage and networking environments. Leveraging over a decade of leadership and expertise in the development of purpose-built Applied Services Processors (ASPs), we are a trusted partner to industry leaders for whom infrastructure innovation in storage and networking is critical to success. With the majority of secure networked communications flowing through Hifn technology, the 21st century convergence of storage and networking drives our product roadmap forward. For more information, please visit: http://www.hifn.com/. "Safe Harbor" Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, statements regarding the Company's future financial performance including, without limitation, statements related to product development and leadership or growing position in a certain market are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include, but are not limited to: dependency on a small number of customers; customer demand and customer ordering patterns; and orders from Hifn's customers may be below the company's current expectations. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Hifn's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hifn expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070723/CLM036LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Hifn CONTACT: Hifn, Inc. Corporate Communications, +1-408-399-3520, ; or Judy Smith of JPR Communications, +1-818-386-0403, , for Hifn Web site: http://www.hifn.com/

Copyright