Nearly 5,000 Sites Now Using EV SSL

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- 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, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the leading 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.

As the leading browser worldwide, Internet Explorer 7 currently has a user base of more than 100 million Internet users. Today, Microsoft stepped up efforts to increase adoption of Internet Explorer 7 by releasing the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability update to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) marked as an Update Rollup package.

“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.”

VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN)