Embedded Root Keys Make Digital Certificate Validation Easy for Windows
2000-Based Applications
SAN JOSE, Calif., RSA CONFERENCE 2000, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- ValiCert,
Inc., the leader in end-to-end, secure infrastructure solutions for
e-Transactions, today announced that Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) will
"validation enable" Windows 2000 by embedding ValiCert's Global VA Service(SM)
root keys into its new operating system. Already embedded in the millions of
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 browsers in use, having the ValiCert root
keys as an intrinsic part of Windows 2000 means any secure Windows-based
application can automatically verify the trustworthiness of all digital
certificates through the ValiCert Global VA Service before trusting them for
e-business transactions. This announcement represents another significant
milestone along ValiCert's road to bringing certificate validation into the
mainstream.
ValiCert's root keys let any validation-aware application using the
Microsoft Certificate Store or built using the Microsoft Crypto Application
Programming Interface (Crypto API) automatically trust all the certificate
validation responses it gets back from the ValiCert Global VA Service by using
the keys to verify the ValiCert digital signature on each response. This
makes it much easier for any organization using Microsoft Internet Explorer,
Outlook, Outlook Express and a host of other applications to achieve much
higher levels of security for their Internet e-business transactions. The
ValiCert root keys are the only ones embedded in Windows 2000 that do not
belong to a certificate issuing authority, giving certificate validation equal
status as a trusted third-party security service, and making ValiCert a part
of Microsoft's trust infrastructure.
"With the ValiCert root keys embedded in Windows 2000, it's almost like
having your own credit card authorization terminal built into your PC and
automatically checking the status of every digital certificate before you
trust it for a transaction," said Yosi Amram, president and CEO of ValiCert.
"Software developers now can easily give their customers the highest level of
security for their e-business applications because they have this capability
built into the operating system."
The ValiCert Global VA Service is the first and only commercially
available Validation Authority (VA) any application can use to quickly and
easily check the validity of any digital certificate before accepting it.
Like the instant authorizations merchants obtain before accepting credit
cards, the ValiCert Global VA Service provides the real-time, universal
digital certificate authorization essential for e-business on the Internet.
"Microsoft is pleased to be able to offer its customers the enhanced
security made possible through the inclusion of the ValiCert root keys in
Windows 2000," said Brian Valentine, Microsoft Windows senior vice president.
"Certificate validation is truly a critical requirement to ensure trust in
e-business transactions, and we look forward to continuing our ongoing
relationship with ValiCert."
About ValiCert
ValiCert is the leading provider of end-to-end, secure infrastructure
solutions for e-Transactions. ValiCert's Validation Authority,
SecureTransport and Digital Receipt services and products protect
organizations before, during and after e-Transactions through comprehensive
trust, transaction and proof solutions.
Through its technology and marketing alliances with the leading global
providers of e-commerce and security services and products, ValiCert's
e-Transaction solutions have become the de facto industry standard.
ValiCert's customers include Global 2000 organizations in financial services,
telecommunications, healthcare and government, and ValiCert's Worldwide
Affiliate Network of ISPs, ASPs and other service providers ensures the
highest level of service and support. ValiCert has headquarters in Mountain
View, California, and can be reached on the Internet at http://www.valicert.com.
NOTE: ValiCert Global VA Service is a service mark of Valicert, Inc. All
other products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective
companies.
SOURCE ValiCert, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com /Web
site: http://www.valicert.com
CONTACT:
Nancy MacGregor, 415-643-0766, or
nancy@cormancom.com, or Patrick Corman, 650-326-9648, or
patrick@cormancom.com, both of Corman Communications, for
ValiCert, Inc.
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