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VeriSign Enhances Online Transaction Security With Mutual Authentication Solutions

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 - 15th February, 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 organisations 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, utilising 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.ch/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 http://www.verisign.ch

For more information, contact: 
VeriSign Media Relations: ken.saunders@hillandknowlton.com 0207 413 3193 
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com, 650-426-3744 

Forward-Looking Statement  
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's plans to install and operate regional resolution servers; 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, 2005 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.