Merilus Appoints New Board Member.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2001

Merilus, Inc. (OTCBB:MERH) is pleased to announce the appointment of John B. Connally to the Merilus Board of Directors.

Mr. Connally has also served on the Boards of Directors

of numerous public and private companies and financial institutions and has considerable experience with governmental and market related entities. In addition to the practice of law, Mr. Connally's business activities have included real estate, oil and gas, banking, ranching, solid waste management, manufacturing and fibre optics.

The son of former US Treasury Secretary, Navy Secretary and Government of Texas John B. Conally Jr., Mr. Connally has had extensive domestic and foreign governmental relations experience. Mr. Connally is currently an attorney and private investor living in Houston, Texas. Formally a partner with a major national and international law firm he has extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. He also has vast experience within the public and private fund raising community having worked with investment banks, public and private funds and institutions. During this time Mr. Connally has carried out a broad range of national, international and global transactions.

"Adding Mr. Connally to our Board of Directors is an important step towards fulfilling the Merilus business model," stated Merilus CEO and President Dana Epp. "The kind of international and financial experience he brings is invaluable for our long term strategic plans."

"In the context of the rapid globalization of the world economy and the exponential growth in use of the interest by business and government, Merilus represents the technological future of the critical requirement for internet security," stated Mr. Connally.

About Merilus

Merilus, Inc., delivers intelligent products that simplify the process of digital security for organizations connecting to networks. The Merilus FireCard is the first only firewall on a PCI Card currently on the market. The Gateway Guardian line of software provides firewall and virtual private networking solutions. Merilus products are designed for SME costumers requiring secure network connectivity and all products are engineered to be easy-to-use and to provide powerful protection from unwanted digital intrusions. More information about Merilus security products can be found at www.merilus.com.

THE SEC AND NASD HAVE NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Forward- looking statements and comments in this press release are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Security Exchange Act of 1934. Certain statements which describe the Company's intentions, expectations or predictions, are forward-looking and are subject to important risks and uncertainties. The result or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things; the impact of rapid technological and market change; general industry and market conditions and interests rates and currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the impact of consolidations in the technology industry. These risks may further be discussed in periodic reports and registration statements to be filed by the Company from time to time with the Security and Exchange Commission in the future.