+++++++++++++++++++++++++ McLean, VA (May 14, 2002) - MIKOH Corporation ("MILKOH (US)"), a provider of secure radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, today announced expansion of a pilot program with the US Department of State. State Department has issued an order for further Smart&Secure seals, substantially increasing thevolume specified in the original pilot.
The program, announced in a shareholder update on February 14, 2002, uses Smart&Secure seals and readers to secure and track portable electronic devices. These devices are issued to State Department personnel who carry them into and out of domestic and international State Department facilities.
The purpose of the program is to detect surreptitious insertion of eavesdropping or surveillance mechanisms into these devices. This tampering may occur when the devices are not under the control of State Department personnel. The devices are especially vulnerable to tampering, as they are taken out of State Department facilities and may be left unattended in areas that are not secure. If undetected, tampering of these devices could pose a serious security risk, since the devices may be carried into secure locations managed by State Department or other agencies.
A Smart&Secure seal attached to each portable device will detect any attempt to open the device housing to access internal components. A Smart&Secure reader is used to determine whether the seal has been tampered, and to verify owner and device information.
To complement Smart&Secure technology, State Department has developed comprehensive internal procedures for monitoring and tracking these portable devices. Each Smart&Secure-sealed device will be verified at intervals specified by a State Department verification program.State Department personnel will also be able to verify their own devices, as necessary, if there is a concern that a device may have been modified.
Development of appropriate procedures is essential to ensure effective use of the Smart&Secure technology. Having an influential agency develop and implement such procedures will make it easier for Smart&Secure to be adopted more broadly.
Similar portable electronic devices are used within other US federal agencies, and the security of electronic equipment generally is a high-priority requirement throughout government. Personal portable electronic devices are increasingly being used within government (as in the commercial and consumer arenas), and pose a particular security risk, since they may be carried into secure locations and sensitive meetings. It is anticpated that State Department will recommend Smart&Secure to other agencies with equivalent requirements.
Smart&Secure ensures the integrityof data stored in an RFID label by determining label authenticity, restricting access to stored information, and e ectronically detecting when a Smart&Secure label has been moved or tampered. The Smart&Secure product suite includes customized labels, seals, and tags; reading devices (hand-held and fixed-position) for information exchange and tamper detection; and software that integrates Smart&Secure capability into existing automated identification and data capture (AIDC) systems.
For further information, contact: MIKOH Corporation 2010 Corporate Ridge, Suite 700 McLean, VA 29102 Tel: 703-242-8266 Fax: 703-242-2581 [email protected].
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