CERTICOM HONORED AS "COMPANY TO WATCH" IN 2002 BY CMP MEDIA LLC'S NETWORK COMPUTING

Certicom Recognized for Significant Contribution to the Security Space in the Market Sector of Cryptography 


HAYWARD, Calif., January 17, 2002 - Certicom, (Nasdaq: CERT; TSE: CIC), a leading provider of mobile e-business security, has been named a "Company to Watch" in 2002 by CMP Media LLC's Network Computing. The recent issue: The Survivor's Guide to 2002 recognizes Certicom for its significant contribution to the security space in the market sector of cryptography. According to Network Computing editors, Certicom was named to this award for "Pioneering ECC and security applications for handhelds." 

Certicom's products and services are designed to address the specific challenges imposed by a wireless data environment. Certicom solutions are based on industry leading standards and utilize Certicom's Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), the most efficient encryption technology available for constrained environments. Certicom products and services solve difficult security problems for the world's leading providers of computing and communication products, including Palm, Motorola, QUALCOMM, Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Nortel Networks, and Sony, among others. 

"IT executives and business people rely on Network Computing for strategic insight and assessment of mission critical technologies," said Prakash Panjwani, senior vice president of business development for Certicom. "This esteemed recognition from such a respected authority validates our business objectives and highlights our leadership position in the data security technology industry." 

About Network Computing
Network Computing (http://www.networkcomputing.com) published by CMP Media LLC, Manhasset, N.Y., defines the core issues facing people who manage technology in business -analyzing the critical decision points in purchasing the products, technologies and services that achieve corporate initiatives. Twice a month 220,000 IT professionals turn to Network Computing to get the information they need to make the right purchase decisions. 

About CMP Media LLC
CMP Media LLC (www.cmpnet.com) is a leading high-tech media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum-the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, trade shows and conferences, custom publishing, testing and consulting. 

About Certicom
Certicom is a leading provider of information security software and services, specializing in solutions for mobile e-business. The company's products and services are specifically designed to address the challenges imposed by a wireless data environment. Certicom's solutions incorporate its efficient encryption technology and are based on industry standards for information security that utilize public key cryptography. Certicom's products are currently licensed to more than 200 customers including Cisco Systems, Inc., Handspring Inc., Motorola, Inc., Nortel Networks, Openwave Systems, Inc., Palm, Inc., QUALCOMM, Inc., Research In Motion Ltd. and Sony International (Europe) GmbH. Certicom's headquarters and worldwide sales and marketing operations are based in the Silicon Valley in Hayward. For more information, visit Certicom's Web site at http://www.certicom.com


Certicom is a trademark of Certicom Corp. All other companies and products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. 

Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, those relating to the acceptance of mobile and wireless devices and the continued growth of e-commerce and m-commerce, the increase of the demand for mutual authentication in m-commerce transactions, the acceptance of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) technology as an industry standard, the market acceptance of our principal products and sales of our customer's products, the impact of competitive products and technologies, the possibility of our products infringing patents and other intellectual property of fourth parties, and costs of product development. Certicom will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect Certicom's financial results is included in the documents Certicom files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. 

For further information, please contact: 

Lorraine Kauffman Carol Paterson
Corporate Communications Lois Paul & Partners (for Certicom)
Certicom Corp. (415) 262-1908
(510) 780-5417 carol_paterson@lpp.com
lkauffman@certicom.com