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Thawte to Offer Free SSL and Code Signing Certificates to Open Source Community
OAKLAND, CA, Nov 04, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
ApacheCon US 2009 -- Thawte, a leading worldwide Certificate
Authority (CA), today announced it will offer Secure Sockets Layer
(SSL) and Code Signing Certificates to approved open source sites and
developers at no cost.
Under a new program announced today coinciding with ApacheCon US
2009, Thawte will provide full-year certificates free of charge for
approved open source projects and applications. The program,
launching in January, builds on Thawte's 15-year history as a
contributor to the open source community. This initiative is a
continuation of Thawte's origins as the open source-centric trusted
SSL provider, dating back to 1995 when it was founded by Mark
Shuttleworth, whose contributions to Debian, Ubuntu and other open
source projects have made him well known throughout the
world.
Thawte(R) SSL Web Server Certificates protect and authenticate
communications between Web servers and browsers. Sites that deploy a
Thawte SSL Certificate can also display the Thawte(R) Trusted Site
Seal, which communicates to every visitor that the identity of the
site's owner has been independently authenticated.
Thawte Code Signing Certificates signal to end users that
applications distributed over the Internet come from a trusted
publisher. Code Signing Certificates serve as "virtual shrink wrap"
for applications by applying a digital signature to code. A broken
digital signature warns users that the application has been tampered
with or modified, thereby protecting them from threats posed by
hackers or malicious code.
Through this program, Thawte is offering the same industry-standard
certificates that it provides to its commercial customers, including
full encryption and authentication -- not modified or watered-down
versions of certificates. Unlike the free SSL certificates from other
CAs which only validate the ownership of the domain name within the
certificate, Thawte's SSL Certificates offered in this program
include full authentication of the organization requesting the
certificate. Users of open source applications will receive all
standard authentication and encryption benefits of Thawte SSL and
code signing products.
"Open source developers and users need the same protections that
commercial industry employs," said Jeff Barto, senior product
marketing manager for Thawte. "However, the open source community
relies on goodwill for its projects to succeed with contributors
giving their time free-of-charge. It's in this spirit that Thawte has
launched this program."
Barto continued, "Since Thawte's founding in 1995, we have committed
to extending the open, collaborative nature of the Internet while
enabling trusted relationships between Web sites, developers and their
customers. Our effort to provide the open source community with
zero-cost encryption, authentication and code signing stems directly
from that focus."
Details of the program will be rolled out at the program's launch in
January. Thawte will establish an approval method for site operators
and developers, to be followed by the normal enrollment and issuance
process, which incorporates Thawte's world-class certification
procedures.
About Thawte
Thawte has been innovating and delivering trusted services for more
than a decade. The company enables businesses and individuals to
communicate and transact securely by verifying and authenticating
their identities, thus allowing them to gain the trust and confidence
of millions of users. Thawte's digital certificates are used globally
to secure servers, encrypt files and communication, and validate the
authenticity of applications and digital code. Through our dedication
to maintaining your security we are helping to build a trusted
digital future for everyone. For more information about Thawte, its
products and trusted services, please visit www.thawte.com
Thawte is an independently operated brand of VeriSign, Inc., the
trusted provider of Internet infrastructure for the networked world.
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 Thawte SSL and Code Signing
Certificates; 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, 2008 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.
Copyright2009 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. Thawte and other
trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered
trademarks of VeriSign, Inc., and its subsidiaries in the United
States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of
their respective owners.
Media Contact:
Gina Spatafore
Email Contact
+1-415.248.3403
SOURCE: Thawte
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=011830EF837362B0
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