MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., (December 19, 1997) -- Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today announced that major financial institutions and merchants are leveraging new security features in Netscape Communicator client software to deliver enhanced Internet security for their products and services. Netscape Communicator's new form signing capability allows users to digitally "sign" electronic forms, providing enhanced security of Internet applications through persistent proof that a user has authorized a transaction. Supportive of this technology is Integrion Financial Network, a company created through an equal partnership of 18 North American financial institutions, Visa USA and IBM Corporation. In addition, the form-signing feature can be leveraged with digital certificates offered by BelSign, CertiSign, GTE Cybertrust, IPS Seguridad, Thawte and VeriSign; and will be used in the National Automated Clearing House Association's (NACHA) Internet Council Certification Authority Interoperability Pilot in 1998.
While the secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol is already an important security technology for electronic commerce, and the S/MIME protocol is becoming an important part of email security, Internet technology has not, until now, enabled individuals to digitally sign transactions. The new form signing feature of Netscape Communicator gives Netscape Communicator the same proof and protection offered by traditional pen-and-ink signatures - proof that an online transaction was authorized by the signer. It provides financial institutions and merchants with a strong persistent proof that transactions have been authorized after an on-line session is completed. "Open, standards-based security protocols are fundamental to linking businesses together on protected Extranets," said Taher Elgamal, chief scientist at Netscape. "The form signing capabilities in Netscape Communicator add important security technology that makes Internet commerce possible and safe - the ability to prove a transaction was authorized after an online session is completed."
Signing a transaction is an automatic procedure that requires very little effort by the end user. After a transaction is completed, a dialog box appears on the user's Netscape Communicator window that contains the exact text the user is being asked to authorize or sign. After reviewing the dialog box, the user clicks "OK" to complete the transaction. The digital signature is then created, and the transaction, complete with signature, is returned to the Web server that is hosting the transaction. Netscape's server-based Signature Verification Utility in Netscape SuiteSpot server software then processes the digital signature, providing persistent proof that the transaction is valid and authorized by the user. The combination of Netscape Communicator and SuiteSpot enables a user to digitally sign Internet-based account application forms, funds transfers, credit card transfers and other electronic "documents" that would normally be signed with a pen.
"Technology such as Form Signing is important in bringing a higher level of trust to Web-based financial transactions and in increasing the acceptance of Web-based electronic commerce," said David Fortney, director of product development of Integrion, a provider of interactive banking and electronic commerce solutions to financial institutions.
"NACHA believes that the ability to sign Web data will play an important role in the growth of Web-based online financial transactions," said Scott Lang, senior director network products of the National Automated Clearing House Association.
"Netscape Communicator's unique ability to leverage VeriSign Digital IDs to digitally sign Web-based forms gives a user added protection when conducting transactions on the Web," said Richard Yanowitch, vice president of marketing for VeriSign, Netscape's premier Certificate Authority. "This form-signing feature provides a higher level of trust to VeriSign customers wanting to perform electronic commerce."
With form signing support, Netscape Communicator enables customers to conduct signed transactions over the Internet and safely access applications built on the Netscape ONE platform. Netscape ONE enables enterprise customers to build powerful Extranets that support around-the-clock, worldwide transactions with business partners, suppliers and customers, and potentially increase customer satisfaction while reducing costs and time to market. Netscape ONE refers to Netscape's platform for building, deploying and managing the next generation of Extranet, Intranet, and Internet applications. Netscape ONE is comprised of services provided by Netscape and its partners as the building blocks for developing these applications.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools and commercial applications to create a complete platform for next-generation, live online applications. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.
Netscape works cooperatively with developers through Netscape DevEdge, a program that provides the timely technical information and marketing support developers need to stay competitive. The program offers developers a variety of membership levels to suit their specific needs and act as their link to Netscape and the growing community of developers building on the Netscape ONE platform. For more information about the Netscape DevEdge program, developers ca go to Netscape DevEdge online at http://developer.netscape.com/program/index.html.
Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to moreinfo@netscape.com. Corporate customers can call 650/937-2555 while consumers can call 650/937-3777 for more information.
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