Codenomicon Launches Pre-Emptive Strike to Protect Wireless Consumer Devices and Networks From Attack

Codenomicon, Ltd., today introduced DEFENSICS for WLAN, an advanced quality and security testing solution that gives developers of wireless consumer devices, public broadband infrastructure vendors and network service providers the means to identify previously unknown product flaws and security vulnerabilities early in the production process -- before any business or consumer information is compromised or service maliciously interrupted.

Codenomicon DEFENSICS for WLAN, the first integrated wireless test suite of its kind. It can be used to extend quality assurance and security-readiness processes of vendors, service providers, enterprises and municipalities deploying Wi-Fi and WiMax networks. Makers of wireless consumer devices, including laptops, cell phones, PDAs, and home entertainment systems, can also rely on Codenomicon's software test suites to improve product quality and service reliability.

"Security depth, configuration options and varying complexity make wireless applications highly susceptible to attack," said Jon Oltsik, analyst with the Enterprise Strategy Group. "The broader the use of wireless infrastructure and consumer applications, the higher the possibility of exposure to malicious attack ranging from loss of service to critical system outage and personal data theft. Pre-emptive wireless testing solutions, such as those offered by Codenomicon, will be essential to the continued proliferation of consumer and public wireless solutions."

The increasing popularity of mobile applications and their enabling devices is fueling the adoption of wireless broadband technologies such as Wi-Fi and WiMax. As service providers and device manufactures vie to be the first to get new products and advanced services into the hands of consumers, potential quality and security exposures are often hidden until a public attack occurs. This can result in costly product imperfections, post-fix costs and loss of consumer confidence. Enterprises deploying a mobile workforce and municipalities deploying public and emergency wireless service are especially concerned with the security and reliability of their chosen equipment and service providers.

The Month of Kernel Bugs (MOKB) project provides numerous examples of Wireless-related vulnerabilities (see http://projects.info-pull.com/mokb/). Exploited vulnerabilities in WLAN applications can result in stolen information, data corruption, costly field upgrades, denial of service and brand damage. Codenomicon DEFENSICS for WLAN is an integrated wireless protocol test solution that allows "pre-emptive" testing of products in development and as a means for deployment readiness testing by service providers and municipalities - enabling the identification of flaws in advance of the public threat.

"WLAN is already being used by more than 350 million people and the broadband wireless world is growing with the movement to WiMax. Add to that the hundreds of new Wi-Fi and innovative Bluetooth devices and the wireless risks increase in scope and severity," said Isaac Sundarajan, CEO of Codenomicon. "We are teaming with equipment vendors, service providers and consumer device makers to preempt quality and security issues and to ultimately enhance buyer confidence and satisfaction."

The DEFENSICS test methodology is based on systematic targeting of possible attacks that go beyond the points of known threats to mitigate against unknown vulnerabilities or zero-day attacks. Attacks to the network infrastructure, mobile devices and Bluetooth devices have exploited complex protocol-level flaws. The use of automated, systematic black-box robustness testing ensures maximum coverage and repeatable results, which are essential for product quality assurance, secure development lifecycle, and deployment readiness validation.

Codenomicon DEFENSICS for WLAN leverages Codenomicon's expertise in Internet, wireless and Bluetooth security testing to extend the company's flagship DEFENSICS test platform into WLAN markets including Wi-Fi and WiMax. Codenomicon's Bluetooth test tools, designed to test Bluetooth applications and devices, have been successfully improving product quality and security for leading Bluetooth vendors for the past two years. The company plans to ship DEFENSICS for WLAN, which includes WiMax testing, in early 2008.

About Codenomicon Ltd.

Codenomicon develops preemptive security and robustness testing solutions that lets customers mitigate unknown and published threats in products and services prior to release or deployment - before systems are exposed, outages occur or zero-day attacks strike. The world-proven Codenomicon DEFENSICS platform is unmatched in its ability to find quality and security flaws within the broadest array of applications. Thousands of developers and security analysts across telecommunications, networking, manufacturing, financial services and defense industries already rely on Codenomicon to reduce costly reputation, quality, compliance and liability risks. Headquartered in Oulu, Finland, with offices in Silicon Valley and Hong Kong, the company sells its testing software and services directly and through international partners. For more information, visit http://www.codenomicon.com.