VeriSign Enables Taxpayer Confidence in Tax
Preparation and Free Electronic Filing Web Sites
VeriSign SSL Certificates Help Ensure Secure Filings for Taxpayers
through 90 Percent of IRS-Approved Tax Preparation Web Sites
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA. – April 5, 2005 - VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:
VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for
the Internet and telecommunications networks, today announced that a
majority of tax preparation Web sites certified by the United States
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to offer free electronic filing in 2005
are being secured by VeriSign. Web sites leveraging VeriSign services
are protected by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates that allow
consumers to verify the level of security available on a tax preparation
site prior to electronically filing their returns.
For the 2004 tax year, the IRS has extended free electronic
tax filing to a larger range of taxpayers by delivering the service
through 20 tax preparation Web sites, 90 percent of which are secured
by VeriSign®
SSL Certificates, while 80 percent display a VeriSign security
seal.
By using VeriSign SSL Certificates, these Web sites
have taken steps to protect sensitive taxpayer information and ensure
secure payment processing. Taxpayers can determine if a site is
protected by VeriSign by looking for the VeriSign®
Secured™ Seal, the industry’s most recognized and reliable
trust mark. If the VeriSign Secured Seal is not present, users
can click on the closed padlock icon at the bottom of their Web browser
to find security information.
“The presence of SSL-based security is an essential
part of any Web exchange involving confidential information,” said Chad
Kinzelberg, vice president, VeriSign Security Services. “VeriSign is
a long-time leader in Web-based security and e-commerce transactions,
and our participation in the protection of the IRS’s electronic filing
process gives taxpayers a high degree of confidence when filing their
tax returns online.”
SSL Certificates protect the transfer of sensitive
data on Web sites, intranets, and extranets at a minimum of 40-bit encryption.
VeriSign certificates are used in a wide range of consumer e-commerce
Web sites and their use is often denoted by the presence of the VeriSign
Secured Seal. VeriSign SSL certificates and the VeriSign Secured
Seal help protect Web users against online threats, such as digital
identity theft and fraud.
Display of the VeriSign Secured Seal on Web sites
indicates use of a security solution from VeriSign that authenticates
the identity of a user, secures the users’ payment processing, and protects
sensitive customer information during online transactions. Together,
these facets of the VeriSign security solution can help protect consumers
against many of the vulnerabilities on the Web.
“We display the VeriSign Secured Seal on our home
page so our users can know they are protected from malicious activity
when using our services,” said Carl Rhodes, Vice President of TaxSlayer.com.
“Using VeriSign SSL Certificates, we can assure our customers that the
personal and financial information they submit when electronically filing
their taxes is fully protected.”
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN) operates intelligent infrastructure services
that enable businesses and individuals to find, connect, secure, and
transact across today’s complex global networks. Additional news
and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.
For more information, contact:
VeriSign Media Relations: Brendan P. Lewis, brlewis@verisign.com,
650-426-4470
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com,
650-426-3744
Statements in this announcement other than historical
data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks
and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ
materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty
of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly
operating results due to such factors as the inability of VeriSign to
successfully develop and market new products and services and customer
acceptance of any new products or services, including VeriSign's SSL
Certificates and the VeriSign Secured Seal; the possibility that VeriSign’s
announced new services may not result in additional customers, profits
or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures. More information
about potential factors that could affect the company's business and
financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the
forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
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