**EXHIBIT 23.1**

** **

**CONSENTOF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS**

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the followingRegistration Statements of our report dated February 6, 2003, with respect tothe consolidated financial statements of SafeNet, Inc. and subsidiariesincluded in Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report (Form 10-K/A) for theyear ended December 31, 2002.

** **
| **Registration Statements on Form S-8**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |   |                         |   |              |   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|------------------------------|--------|-------------------|--------|
| **Name**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |   | **Registration**

**Number** |   | **Date Filed**    |   |
| Common Stock of  SafeNet, Inc. issuable upon exercise of options assumed by SafeNet, Inc. in  connection with the certain agreement and plan of reorganization by an among  SafeNet, Inc., Sapphire Acquisition Corp. and Cylink Corporation date as of  October 30, 2002 (the “Merger Agreement”), which were originally issued under  the following stock option plans: |   |                         |   |              |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| Cylink  Corporation 2001 Non-Qualified Stock Incentive Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |   |                         |   |              |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| Cylink/ARL 1997  Stock Option Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |                         |   |              |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| Cylink  Corporation Amended and Restated 1994 Flexible Stock Incentive Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |   | 333-103063                   |   | February 10, 2003 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| SafeNet, Inc.  2001 Omnibus Stock Plan, (Formerly 2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |   |                         |   |              |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| SafeNet, Inc.  Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |   | 333-98029                    |   | August 13, 2002   |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| SafeNet, Inc.  2001 Omnibus Stock Plan, (Formerly 2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |   | 333-62584                    |   | June 8, 2001      |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| SafeNet, Inc.  2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |   | 333-50772                    |   | November 28, 2000 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| Information  Resource Engineering, Inc. 2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |   | 333-43062                    |   | August 4, 2000    |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| Information  Resource Engineering, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Option Plan, 1999 Stock Bonus  Plan, 1999 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |   | 333-91877                    |   | December 1, 1999  |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |                         |   |              |   |
| Information  Resource Engineering, Inc. Stock Option Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |   | 333-08343                    |   | July 18, 1996     |   |

 
| **Registration  Statements on Form S-3** |   |
|------------------------------------------|--------|
|                                     |   |
| **Registration**

**Number**             |   | **Date Filed** |   |
| 333-89282                                |   | June 18, 2002 |   |
| 333-89282                                |   | June 12, 2002 |   |
| 333-89282                                |   | May 29, 2002 |   |
| 333-93371                                |   | December 22, 1999 |   |
| 333-90237                                |   | November 3, 1999 |   |
| 333-04907                                |   | May 31, 1996 |   |
| 033-94046                                |   | August 18, 1995 |   |
| 033-94046                                |   | June 28, 1995 |   |

 

 

 

Baltimore, Maryland

April 29, 2003

 

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