VeriSign Passes Online Security Milestone
with One Million Active SSL Certificates
Web's Three Leading SSL Certificate Brands Extend Reach to Deliver
Secure Internet Experience and Build Consumer Trust in Online Transactions
Mountain View, CA - May 14, 2008 - VeriSign,
Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure
services for the networked world, today announced that the company has
deployed one million active Secure
Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates, which already provide security
for more than 93 percent of the Fortune 500 and the world's 40 largest
banks.
VeriSign's SSL Certificates, including VeriSign®,
GeoTrust®, and thawte® brand certificates, help consumers guard against
imposter Web sites by verifying and providing information about the
identity of the certificate owner, verifying that the certificate owner
has rights to the domain name, and enabling encryption of sensitive
information during online transactions.1 When a user visits a Web site protected by one of these
certificates, the browser will display a closed padlock at the lower
right hand corner of the browser window and "https" in the
URL address bar. This allows visitors to browse a page with a greater
degree of confidence that they have reached the Web site they intend
to visit and not an imposter site.
The VeriSign Secured® Seal, which includes
the widely recognized "VeriSign check mark," indicates that
a Web page is secured by VeriSign-brand SSL Certificates. The seal is
recognized worldwide as a symbol of trust and online security and is
a common fixture on the Web pages of leading online merchants, financial
services providers and other businesses.
"As more consumers take greater advantage
of the benefits of online shopping, they will need more assurances that
the sites they visit are safe for their business," said Chris Babel,
senior vice president, SSL, VeriSign. "The milestone of VeriSign's
millionth active SSL Certificate extends an industry presence that already
secures more Web servers than any other certificate authority and has
established the VeriSign Secured Seal as the most trusted seal on the
Web. We will continue to work with our industry peers and customers
to help provide more trusted places for online purchases for an even
greater number of consumers."
"This milestone of VeriSign's millionth
active SSL Certificate demonstrates the company's considerable industry
presence and has established the VeriSign Secured Seal as one of the
most trusted seals on the Internet," said Chris Christiansen, program
vice president of security products and service, IDC.
A TNS Research study found that seventy-nine
percent of U.S. online shoppers are familiar with the VeriSign Secured
Seal, more than any other mark2. The seal is viewed by consumers over 150 million times per
day and has been tested and proven to help increase transactions by
as much as 31
percent 3. The VeriSign Secured Seal appears on over 90,000 domains
in 145 countries around the world.
VeriSign's SSL certificates include the popular
brands VeriSign, GeoTrust, thawte and RapidSSL®. Learn more about the
VeriSign SSL Certificates and the VeriSign Secured Seal at: http://www.verisign.com/ssl/index.html
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) is the trusted provider of Internet
infrastructure services for the networked world. Billions of times each
day, VeriSign helps companies and consumers all over the world engage
in communications and commerce with confidence. Additional news and
information about the company is available at www.verisign.com
Contacts
Media relations: Christina Rohall, crohall@verisign.com,
650-336-4663
Investor Relations: Nancy Fazioli, ir@verisign.com,
650-426-5146
1 Applicable to
organization authenticated certificates only. Certain GeoTrust
and Thawte brand certificates, and RapidSSL certificates, include domain
authentication only. Such certificates verify that the certificate
owner has control over the domain name, and enable encryption of information,
but do not verify and provide information about the identity of the
certificate owner.
2 "VeriSign Secured Research," TNS
August 2006. This study was sponsored by VeriSign and was comprised
of online shoppers at least 18 years old. U.S. respondents were
recruited from the TNS NFO Panel.
3 Statistic as reported by customer Virtual
Sheet Music in case study published in April 2008. See "Virtual
Sheet Music, Inc." Your company's results may vary.
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
EV SSL solutions; 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, 2007 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.
©2008 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VeriSign,
the VeriSign logo, the checkmark circle, GeoTrust, thawte, RapidSSL
and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered
trademarks of VeriSign, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries in the United
States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of
their respective owners.
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