VeriSign Enhances Online Transaction Security
With Mutual Authentication Solutions Leveraging Microsoft Internet Explorer
7 and “InfoCard”
VeriSign To Showcase Interoperability of SSL Certificates and VeriSign®
Identity Protection with Microsoft Technologies During RSA Conference
2006 Keynote of Stratton Sclavos
SAN JOSE, CA. – RSA 2006 -- February 15, 2006 –
VeriSign, Inc., (NASDAQ: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent
infrastructure services for Internet and telecommunications networks,
today announced it is strengthening online transaction security by working
together with Microsoft on mutual authentication solutions. The solutions
take advantage of technology from Microsoft, code-named “InfoCard,”
the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 browser, as well as VeriSign Secured
Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates and the newly launched VeriSign® Identity
Protection (VIP) to protect consumers and Web site owners against phishing,
pharming and other forms of online identity theft. The complementary
technologies allow both the destination site and the consumer to easily
and positively identify each other.
VeriSign will showcase these solutions at the RSA
2006 keynote address of Stratton Sclavos, Chairman and CEO of VeriSign,
taking place at 9:05am, February 15, 2006, in the San Jose Civic Auditorium
VeriSign is working with Microsoft on new solutions
that provide what is termed “mutual authentication” on the Internet.
Mutual authentication requires that both the destination site and the
consumer positively identify each other. Unlike other solutions
for site authentication, this collaborative approach cannot be phished
or spoofed, and provides a more secure and intuitive user experience.
“With the damage of malicious online activities continuing
to rise, new and creative technologies and approaches are needed to
stem the tide,” said Nico Popp, vice president, Authentication Services,
VeriSign Security Services. “VeriSign is working on a solution that
marries Microsoft technology with our intelligent network infrastructure
to create a solution to identity theft and make the Internet more secure,
more trusted and safer for all of us.”
To help end-users clearly differentiate between a
legitimate and spoofed Web site, Microsoft’s IE7 browser and “InfoCard”
technology will use VeriSign’s “Enhanced Validation” SSL certificates
to provide clear and un-spoofable visual feedback about the sites’ authenticity.
Only organizations that pass VeriSign’s rigorous authentication process
will be issued “Enhanced Validation” SSL Certificates for their Web
sites. When a consumer visits such a site, the IE7 address bar
turns green and shows the name of the organization owning the certificate
and the identity of the Certificate Authority, such as VeriSign, in
the browser’s interface.
Providers or financial institutions will be able to
strongly identify a user with the integration of Microsoft “InfoCard”
technology with the VIP network. This integration will form the
next generation of solutions for securely authenticating users, utilizing
built-in Windows functionality that allows consumers to link any type
of strong authentication device to their “InfoCard” and present it as
an identity card to any VIP-enabled website.
“InfoCard” is a Microsoft technology that simplifies
and improves the safety of accessing resources and sharing personal
information on the Internet, and represents a key component of Microsoft’s
implementation of an “identity metasystem” – an open, extensible framework
based on the Web services WS-* Architecture that spans new and existing
platforms and technologies across the industry. With “InfoCard,” consumers
can download these credentials from trusted identity providers such
as their bank, employer, government agency, or membership organization,
or create their own self-issued cards. Moreover, digital identity and
related personal information can be more securely stored and managed
in a variety of ways, including via the online identity security providers
such as VeriSign, which offers a choice of security and portable devices
such as USB keychain devices, smart cards, and mobile devices.
“‘InfoCard’ provides customers with the control and
flexibility they need to more safely access Internet-based resources,”
said Richard Turner, product manager, Web Services Strategy at Microsoft.
“This demonstration shows how ‘InfoCard’ can combine the collective
strengths of our technology with service partners’ offerings to provide
new and unique proactive fraud and identity theft measures.”
VIP is a modern approach to combating digital identity
theft targeted at both consumers and online services that enables the
use of stronger authentication across multiple Web sites by promoting
a shared authentication network approach. With VIP, the same authentication
device will work across any network member sites, leveraging a shared
infrastructure and enabling everyday devices in consumer hands to become
authentication devices. For more information on VIP, please go
to: http://www.verisign.com/dm/vip
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), operates intelligent infrastructure services
that enable and protect billions of interactions every day across the
world’s voice and data 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 risk that VeriSign's announced
strategic relationships, including relationships with Microsoft, may
not result in additional products, services, 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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