ALDN Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd (MM)

Europe's Largest Educational Download Portal Secures Software with Aladdin HASP SL CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALDN) today announced that Signpost, the founder of http://www.academicdownload.com/, Europe's largest download portal, chose HASP SL (formerly called 'Privilege') to secure its software downloads. On request of several universities and colleges, Signpost set out to develop a distribution model in which software could be made available to individual students in a user-friendly and budget-friendly way. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040416/CGALADDINLOGO ) The site allows European educational institutions, students and teachers to download the most recent versions of the most popular software packages in a simple, cheap and legal way. To activate the software, users get a unique activation code. To generate this code, Signpost is using the Aladdin HASP SL system. Aladdin HASP SL is a security solution for electronic software distribution, selling, product activation and software licensing. The product prevents illegal use of software as publishers can determine how often the end user can install the product. The software publisher can also determine an evaluation period beforehand and he is the only person who can activate the product when bought. The built-in copy protection prevents illegal usage. "Aladdin was the ideal partner to offer software securely via the web," said Paul Steenbergen, CEO of Signpost. "Our demands were straightforward. We had to offer legal versions of software for one academic year and the solution could not be a hassle for the educational institution itself. With Aladdin HASP SL, we are able to offer software vendors a ready-to-use, secure solution without specially adapting their software. The biggest advantage for them is the unique activation code. With this, we ensure them that all software is offered in a secure way." Paul Veck, software DRM strategy manager at Aladdin Western Europe, said, "Signpost's model is directly addressing a concern that many software vendors have -- how best to approach the educational market and offer best value to students whilst minimising business risk. HASP SL enables Signpost and its business partners to utilise the educational channel with confidence while offering the added value of 'try before you buy' versions. Signpost also needed a solution that could offer time-limited versions in combination with a unique activation code in order to offer software in a secure way. By using the Aladdin solution, Signpost now has the possibility to introduce time-limited versions as a pilot project to the educational market." After a thorough analysis Signpost found that HASP SL was the only solution that met the expectations and needs of both software vendors and Signpost. The project was implemented within one week. With one push on the button, the software is now 'time bombed' and an activation code is produced. Numerous software vendors have started to use http://www.academicdownload.com/ as a pilot project to evaluate this new platform. For more information, visit http://www.signpost.be/. About HASP SL HASP SL (formerly called 'Privilege') builds on Aladdin's 19 years of software protection experience and market-proven anti-piracy technology by providing the world's leading software developers with an array of efficient, performance-oriented features that create and preserve revenue streams, reduce operational costs and contribute to end-user value including: -- Software Security and distribution -- Flexible Licensing -- Licensing and interface templates and toolkits -- Marketing and business information tracking -- Easy storefront integration About Aladdin Knowledge Systems Aladdin (NASDAQ:ALDN) is a leader in digital security, providing solutions for software digital rights management and Internet security since 1985. Serving more than 30,000 customers worldwide, Aladdin products include: the USB-based eToken(TM) device for strong user authentication and e-commerce security; the eSafe(R) line of integrated content security solutions that protect networks against malicious, inappropriate and nonproductive Internet-borne content; and the HASP(R) family of hardware- and software-based products that flexibly protect, license and distribute software and intellectual property. Visit the Aladdin Web site at http://www.ealaddin.com/. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040416/CGALADDINLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Press, Matthew Zintel of Zintel Public Relations, +1-310-574-8888, ; Investor Relations, Mark Jones of Global Consulting Group, +1-646-284-9414, Web site: http://www.ealaddin.com/ http://www.academicdownload.com/ http://www.signpost.be/

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