verisign

Netflix, RIM, others get boot from key Nasdaq stock index

The shakeup that landed Facebook on Nasdaq's top 100 list is also leading to the departure of other prominent tech players.

Facebook was added last week to the Nasdaq 100, the collection of the largest 100 nonfinancial companies trading on the stock exchange. Facebook's addition to the index came with the departure of IT consulting company Infosys, which is moving over to the New York Stock Exchange.

However, Infosys is not the only tech company leaving the index. A handful of other prominent tech players, including Netflix and beleaguered handset maker Research In Motion will be dropped from … Read more

VeriSign expects major security update by 2011

VeriSign, which runs the master database for such domains as .com and .net, says a significant Internet security vulnerability will be closed by 2011, after delays caused by technical aspects of the implementation.

The problem is that DNS, the Domain Name System that translates Internet addresses into numerical values, can be seeded with false values and used to misdirect users. VeriSign told ZDNet on Friday that it will put in place DNSSEC, a protocol that will guarantee the origin and integrity of DNS data for the .com and .net domains, by the first quarter of 2011.

Can't be too careful

VeriSign's VIP (VeriSign Identity Protection) Access for Mobile is a free app that lets you add an extra layer of security to your typical Web log-ins from your iPhone and iPod Touch. Popular sites such as eBay, AOL, GEICO, and PayPal all support the app, which is currently only available for the iPhone. The VIP Access application works by creating credentials that are tied to your iPhone--based on your number--and confirmed through SMS. After confirmation, the app generates a unique, six-digit token that changes every 30 seconds based on an algorithm associated with the credentials created. It's extremely … Read more

VeriSign VIP Access for Mobile authentication tokens for iPhone (review)

VeriSign has released VIP (VeriSign Identity Protection) Access for Mobile ( iTunes Link), a free app that lets you supplement typical user Web site log-ins with an extra, cryptographically strong ID confirmation. Popular sites such as eBay, AOL, GEICO, and PayPal all support the app, which is currently only available for the iPhone.

What is VIP Access for Mobile?

VIP Access for Mobile works by creating credentials tied to your iPhone. These credentials are based on your phone number and confirmed via SMS messaging. After your number is confirmed, the app generates a unique, six-digit token that changes every 30 seconds … Read more

Mobile phone malware in our future?

Last week, a new report (PDF) on emerging threats from the Georgia Tech Information Security Center mentioned, among other predictions, that botnets were likely to hit mobile phones sometime in the next year. On Tuesday, I spoke with VeriSign CTO Ken Silva about that possibility and why it might happen within the coming year.

"Criminals will go where the money is," Silva told CNET News. "If you start doing things of financial interest with your mobile phone, they will find a way to get your money."

Silva said the mobile phone market is changing. Today's … Read more

VeriSign sells Jamba stake to News Corp.

VeriSign on Tuesday announced that it has sold its minority stake in mobile-entertainment joint venture Jamba to partner News Corp. for approximately $200 million.

The sale bumps News Corp.' unit Fox Mobile Entertainment's share of Jamba from a 51 percent stake to full ownership. And it enables VeriSign to focus on its core Internet infrastructure business, according to Jim Bidzos, the company's interim CEO. VeriSign runs the master database for such domains as .com and .net.

The joint venture was announced two years ago, when Rupert Murdoch's media company acquired a controlling stake in VeriSign's mobile-ringtone … Read more

VeriSign names interim CEO

VeriSign, which runs the master database for the .com and .net domains, has replaced its CEO and president, who resigned suddenly earlier this week.

The company said Thursday that William Roper had resigned as of Monday. Roper, who had served as CEO for just more than a year, has been replaced on an interim basis by VeriSign's founder and chairman, Jim Bidzos.

Bidzos, who founded the Mountain View, Calif.-based company in 1995, has served as either chairman or vice chairman of the board of directors since its start. He was also the company's first CEO.

Roper had … Read more

VeriSign expands its two-factor token network

On Wednesday, VeriSign invited companies to join their VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) Network by announcing the VIP Quick Start. As encouragement, vendors who sign up between now and September 30 will receive 5,000 free tokens to distribute to their customers. The customers can then use the tokens on any of the participating VIP sites.

VIP is part of a two-factor authentication process created by VeriSign. Customers are given tokens or cards that display a digital password that's time-synced with a server on the corporate bank end. When one goes to access the site, you simply enter the digital … Read more

VeriSign expands plan to strengthen Net infrastructure

Update 3:15 p.m. PDT: The headline and opening sentence have been changed to clarify that VeriSign is expanding its Project Titan initiative to strengthen and secure Net infrastructure.

On Thursday, VeriSign announced plans to increase the level of security within Project Titan, a global initiative to expand the infrastructure of the Internet to anticipate future demand brought by increased e-commerce transactions.

In its announcement, VeriSign said that it is going to spend more than the $100 million-plus initially budgeted.

One of the goals of Project Titan is to increase the overall capacity of the Internet to sustain a … Read more

OpenID Foundation scores top-shelf board members

If the OpenID Foundation were a liquor cabinet, it just got stocked with some Grey Goose, Rhum Clement, and Gran Patron.

The foundation, which is pushing for a universal Internet login standard, announced on Thursday that representatives from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, IBM, and VeriSign have become its first corporate board members. They join existing board members Scott Kveton (Vidoop), David Recordon (Six Apart), Dick Hardt (Sxip Identity), Martin Atkins (independent), Artur Bergman (Wikia), Johannes Ernst (NetMesh), Drummond Reed (Parity Communications), and executive director Bill Washburn.

Several major technology companies, including Yahoo, had already voiced support for the standard.

OpenID started … Read more