Cybertrust Extended Validation SSL Certificates Provide Trust for Online Transactions

Business Wire, Jan 25, 2007

Fraud Prevented Through Secure Connections and Established Online Business Identities; Cybertrust Solution Extends Trust to Windows XP Users and Simplifies Multiple Certificate Fulfillment

HERNDON, Va. -- Cybertrust([R]), the global information security specialist, today announced the launch of its Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates. Businesses utilizing Cybertrust EV SSL Certificates will enable their customers using Internet Explorer (IE) 7 on Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 2 to complete online transactions with greater confidence, as EV SSL Certificates turn on the "green bar" in IE 7, which indicates the organization has successfully passed a thorough identity check and assures customers that the Web site is a verified business.

EV SSL certificates are the next generation of high assurance SSL certificates, providing a highly recognizable, visible way for organizations to prove that their Web site is an authenticated business and help reassure consumers they are using the correct Web site rather than a phished imitation. For example, the address bar in IE 7 will turn green to certify that the Web site and its owner's identity have been researched and certified by Cybertrust validation specialists as legitimate. However, the address bar will not turn green if the Web site does not have an EV SSL certificate, indicating to users that they should proceed with caution before conducting online transactions.

Two unique factors contribute to Cybertrust's EV SSL certificate offering rising above those of other vendors. Cybertrust EV SSL certificates by default provide the functionality for businesses to extend the protection to users running IE 7 on the Windows XP operating system so Windows XP SP2 users also can see the green IE 7 toolbar to verify the Web site is legitimate and they can conduct online transactions with confidence. In addition, Cybertrust simplifies the upgrade process for those organizations that require multiple certificates by allowing customers to use pre-verified identities of multiple staff members against future certificate orders, expediting the time required to fulfill the request as the personnel verification work is already completed.

Cybertrust EV SSL Certificates will prove particularly beneficial for companies who own Internet domains that are considered at a high risk of being targeted by phishing and other types of Internet fraud, such as high-profile online financial services, banking sites, auction sites, popular retailers and other sites that conduct Internet transactions with customers that are less likely to detect that they are responding to a fraudulent phishing attempt.

"When it comes to organizations conducting business online, the impact of EV SSL Certificates can be summed up in one word - trust," said Stijn Bijnens, Cybertrust senior vice president, identity management. "Trust directly translates to revenue that businesses cannot afford to lose if consumers lose confidence in the security of their sites. The Cybertrust EV SSL certificates are one of the biggest improvements in the ability of businesses to create trust online, as users receive confirmation of their identity."

EV SSL certificates provide a uniform identity validation standard for all certification authorities so consumers will be able to make reliable risk assessment decisions about the authenticity of the Web sites with which they conduct online transactions. Any incorporated online business that can demonstrate their business identity according to the extended validation process can receive an EV SSL certificate. The Extended Validation process is more comprehensive than today's vetting standards to prevent phishers and pharmers from impersonating a business and harming its customers. Consumers can be confident that the site they are visiting is genuine and safe for confidential transactions. Cybertrust provides its EV SSL Certificate customers step-by-step guidance to ensure success in obtaining EV SSL certificates.

The guidelines for EV SSL certificates are defined by The Certification Authority Browser Forum (CA/Browser Forum), a voluntary organization of leading certification authorities (CAs) and vendors of Internet browser software and other applications. Members of the CA/Browser Forum have worked closely together in defining the guidelines and means of implementation for the Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate standard as a way of providing a heightened security for Internet transactions and creating a more intuitive method of displaying secure sites to Internet users.

For more information, please visit the Cybertrust Extended Validation SSL Certificates Resource Center at http://www.cybertrust.com/solutions/ssl_certificates/ev_certs.> About Cybertrust

Cybertrust is the global information security specialist, delivering services that secure critical data, protect identities and help customers demonstrate ongoing compliance. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, United States with more than 30 offices around the globe, Cybertrust is one of the world's largest providers of information security and a global market leader in managed security services. For more information, visit www.cybertrust.com.