First GSM Operator Planning to Launch Automated F-Secure Anti-Virus Service to Internet Users

Espoo, Finland - October 3, 2000

F-Secure, a leading provider of centrally-managed, widely distributed security solutions, today announced that the Swiss GSM operator diAx is planning to launch an anti-virus security service for its Internet users through F-Secure's PersonalExpress solution.

Based on F-Secure's Security as a Service TM-model, the F-Secure PersonalExpress enables an ISP, an Internet portal or any similar service provider, even a GSM operator, to act as a security service provider and offer its customers anti-virus services running locally in the end-users own PC. The home user contacts the operator and receives the security software via Internet. A GSM operator may utilize SMS-messages as a billing mechanism, as diAx is doing. The service is billed on a monthly basis on the GSM bill. It is a revolutionary new way of delivering security to a widely distributed customer base.

Frank Boller, CEO, diAx, "This is a great opportunity for diAx to offer value added Internet security services to our subscribers . The cooperation with F-Secure gives us a chance to provide automatically updated anti-virus services to our GSM customers with Internet access. We are proud to be the first GSM operator planning to provide this type of security service. This is an exciting innovative new business model for the market and will support our strategy to make the Internet more secure".

F-Secure PersonalExpress is a flexible way of purchasing security services for consumer end-users. It provides anti-virus functionality for the Internet-surfer without the trouble of constant updating, and also makes adding distributed firewall functionality easy without requiring configuration skills from the user. The software is always up-to-date, and downloads and updates are automatic and invisible. Updating is done in the background, using the bandwidth unused by the actual operations of the user. F-Secure's partner in Switzerland, Netstuff AG, provides all the system integration services and the actual hosting of the operating center for diAx.

"The F-Secure Anti-Virus product family provides the strongest available defense against viruses and malicious code," says Risto Siilasmaa, President and CEO at F-Secure. "We are very excited to be able to extend our operations and work with diAx to create new exciting business revenue opportunities and enable them to offer completely new security methods for consumers and the SOHO markets."

About diAX

DiAx is the alternative Swiss provider of modern communications with a comprehensive range of services. The joint venture of diAx Holding - owned by more than 60 companies of the Swiss electricity industry, Swiss Re and Winterthur Life - and SBC Communications Inc., the second largest telecom corporation in the USA, currently employs more than 2,000 persons nationwide. The diAx mobile network is the most up-to-date GSM dual band infrastructure in the country and covers more than 90% of the population. With its more than 3,700 km long high-performance fiber optic network, diAx owns the second largest fixed network in Switzerland.