VeriSign Releases Code Signing
Certificates for Adobe AIR
To Ensure Integrity of Applications on Adobe AIR, Adobe Once Again
Looks to VeriSign for Code Signing
Mountain View, Calif. – August 19, 2008 – VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:
VRSN), the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for
the networked world, today released VeriSign® Code Signing Certificates
for an application on Adobe® AIR™. Adobe AIR is a cross-operating
system runtime that enables rich Internet applications (RIAs) to be
deployed on the desktop. Now, RIA developers can sign their code
with VeriSign Code Signing Certificates, which will help assure end
users that applications on Adobe AIR are from a trusted publisher and
that applications can be securely delivered.
With today’s announcement, Adobe has broadened its
affiliation with VeriSign as a code signing certificate authority for
Adobe AIR. In February, Adobe announced that Adobe AIR supported code
signing certificates from thawte, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
VeriSign. Adobe requires all applications on Adobe AIR to be digitally
signed, and VeriSign and thawte were the first Certification Authorities
to offer code signing certificates to the Adobe AIR developer community.
By obtaining a VeriSign or thawte code signing certificate
for an application on Adobe AIR, RIA developers can digitally sign applications,
resulting in “virtual shrinkwrap” protection. For the end-user, a broken
digital signature means code has been tampered with or modified, and
the application can't be installed on the machine.
“VeriSign is pleased to bring another member of its
renowned family of code signing solutions to the rapidly growing Adobe
AIR developer community,” said Michael Lin, vice president of SSL product
management at VeriSign. “VeriSign Code Signing Certificates preserve
the integrity of applications on Adobe AIR, while protecting both end
users and developers from hackers and other malicious threats. As the
popularity of Adobe AIR applications soars, VeriSign and thawte code
signing certificates will help software publishers leverage the inherent
scale and global reach of the Internet to deliver applications end users
can trust.”
Adobe AIR is a milestone runtime environment that
enables developers to use the skills and Web technologies – such as
HTML, Ajax, PDF, Adobe Flash® and Adobe Flex® – they already employ
to deliver RIAs on the desktop. When an application built on Adobe AIR
is installed, the user is presented with a security dialog to confirm
they wish to install the application from a particular provider who
is identified by digitally signing the application. The installer also
informs the user that the application will be able to access the local
hard disk. The user makes the final decision as to whether or not they
trust the provider and want to install the application based on the
trusted identity.
"The use of digital signatures protects the integrity
of applications and confirms the authorship of RIAs deployed on Adobe
AIR.," said Luis Polanco, senior product manager, Adobe AIR at
Adobe. "Unlike browser-based Web applications, applications on
Adobe AIR are installed on a user's machine, so they must support the
same kind of security protections required for desktop software. VeriSign
Code Signing Certificates are an important part of achieving this goal
and we are delighted to be working with VeriSign.”
For more information on VeriSign® Code Signing Certificates
for an application on Adobe® AIR™ visit: www.verisign.com/adobe-air
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
Christina Rohall, crohall@verisign.com,
650-426-5219
Investor Relations: Nancy Fazioli, ir@verisign.com
, 650-426-5146
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 Code
Signing 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.
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