Internet Explorer 7: More Internet Users to Benefit from VeriSign EV SSL Protection

See the Reassuring Green Address Bar

(10.03.08) - Across the globe, Windows Internet Explorer 7 has more than 100 million users seeing green, thanks to the browser’s support for advanced validation solutions from VeriSign, a provider of Internet infrastructure for the networked world.

With its ability to recognize VeriSign Extended Validation (EV) Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates, Internet Explorer 7 enables Internet users to see the reassuring green address bar. The green bar signals to consumers they have reached a legitimate site protected by VeriSign EV SSL Certificates, instead of a convincing impostor page created by identity thieves. Such fraudulent pages are a common tool for e-criminals bent on stealing sensitive personal information, from passwords to Social Security Numbers. The number of sites live with an EV SSL Certificate is approaching 5,000.

"There are many reasons for users and businesses to move to Internet Explorer 7, and improved security and privacy significantly influence this decision,” said Craig Spiezle, director of Internet Security & Privacy at Microsoft. "Advancements like the ability to spot the green address bar when visiting a site protected by EV SSL Certificates as well as uncompromising protection from the phishing filter, which blocks one million attempts to visit phishing sites each week, are major differentiators for Internet Explorer 7. We're invested in helping people feel confident about keeping their personal information protected from falling into the wrong hands."

By deploying VeriSign EV SSL Certificates, online banks, retailers and other businesses help build trust and confidence among consumers by offering them immediate and visible assurance that they are dealing with a reputable e-commerce site. In addition to the green address bar, Internet Explorer 7 also displays other visual cues, including a lock icon next to the address, and a new field that contains the name of the organization that owns the site as well as the security provider that issued the certificate, such as VeriSign. To learn more about VeriSign EV SSL, visit http://www.verisign.com/EV-SSL

Support for EV SSL protection continues to grow. Last month, the Authentication and Online Trust Alliance (AOTA) announced its endorsement of Extended Validation SSL certificates. "Online crime is inevitable and criminals will continue to get smarter, making the need for industry collaboration imperative to staying one step ahead of the game," said Howard A. Schmidt, president and CEO of R&H Security Consulting, former White House Cyber Security Advisor and AOTA board member. "AOTA stands behind EV certificates and promotes adoption as a key tool to help the entire online trust ecosystem."

"Trust is everything on the Internet, and that explains why thousands of Web domains worldwide are protected with VeriSign EV SSL certificates," said Tim Callan, vice president of SSL product marketing at VeriSign. "Microsoft displayed strategic forethought by designing Internet Explorer 7 to support EV SSL certificates. As millions more users upgrade to this latest version of Internet Explorer, we at VeriSign anticipate even broader acceptance of this essential tool for security-enhanced online banking, shopping and surfing." (VeriSign: ma)