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VeriSign and Infineon Collaborate to Increase Usability of Trusted Computing Solutions


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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., and MUNICH, Germany, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN) and Infineon Technologies AG (NYSE: IFX; FSE),
today announced they are jointly working to further extend the security level
of personal computers at home and abroad by collaborating to increase levels
of trusted computing solutions for end-users. Under terms of the cooperative
effort, VeriSign will certify Infineon's Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
Certification Authority with its Trusted Computing Root Certification
Authority, enabling the secure creation and use of digital certificates on all
computing systems powered by Infineon's TPM solution.
To establish the basis for trustworthy communication and strong
authentication, the Trusted Computing Group has introduced the concept of an
Endorsement Key (EK) certificate as the only way for a TPM to prove its
legitimacy. The EK certificate is an integral component of the Trusted
Computing Environment, containing information that identifies an operating
platform as TPM-legitimate. In the chip manufacturing and production stage,
Infineon will create and digitally sign an EK to confirm the authenticity and
integrity of their TPM. VeriSign will then cross-sign the Infineon TPM
Certification Authority with its own Trusted Computing Root Certification
Authority backed by their industry leading and well-established Certificate
Policies and Practice Statement.
Additionally, Infineon will securely embed The VeriSign Class 3 Primary CA
certificate into its TPM 1.2. This will provide a trust anchor for secure
authentication services and encryption for networking applications, as well as
a strong industry-wide PKI practice. By doing this, customers using Infineon
TPM-enabled systems can maximize the legitimacy of their connection to, and
data received from, another computing platform.
"The secure use of credentials is a major component of the TCG
specifications. The Endorsement Key Certificate is a crucial component in the
Root-of-Trust concept, underscoring the need for there to be the highest
levels of trust during its creation and certification," said Jim Ward,
President of the Trusted Computing Group. "The secure implementation of the
root of trust will be important to future network services."
"The use of PKI-based digital certificates has become an underpinning of
digital interactions across today's global, digital networks. People take for
granted how important digital certificates are to encrypting and protecting
sensitive data," said Nicolas Popp, Vice President, Authentication Services,
VeriSign. "Through our work with Infineon, which will see VeriSign
certificates embedded in the very heart of a computing environment, we can
maximize the legitimacy of operating platforms."
"Infineon, as a leading provider of TCG solutions, has put strong emphasis
on the secure handling of key material," said Thomas Rosteck, Senior Director
and head of the product line Trusted Computing at Infineon Technologies AG.
"The cooperation with VeriSign provides trustworthy use of credentials which
does bring benefits to PC manufacturers, system administrators and end users."
Infineon is the world's only supplier to offer their own comprehensive
hardware and software solutions compliant with the TCG's 1.1b and 1.2
specifications. Its TPM security solution features a secure chip hardware, a
complete suite of embedded security and TPM system management utilities, as
well as application software which simplify data protection through file and
folder encryption protected with hardware-based key generation and storage. PC
manufacturers benefit from Infineon's TPM offering since it secures all core
components of a security subsystem used for authenticity, integrity and
confidentiality of data stored.
More information on Infineon's TPM solution is available at
http://www.infineon.com/tpm

About TCG Specifications
The Trusted Computing Group (TCG), with more than 100 member companies, is
a not-for-profit organization formed to develop, define, and promote open
standards for hardware-enabled trusted computing and security technologies,
including hardware building blocks and software interfaces, across multiple
platforms, peripherals, and devices. TCG specifications will enable more
secure computing environments without compromising functional integrity,
privacy, or individual rights. The primary goal is to help users protect their
information assets (data, passwords, keys, etc.) from compromise due to
external software attack and physical theft.
The Group was formed as a successor to the Trusted Computing Platform
Alliance (TCPA), which was founded in 1999 by Compaq, HP, IBM, Intel and
Microsoft. TCG has adopted the specifications of TCPA and will both enhance
these specifications and extend the specifications across multiple platforms
such as servers, PDA's, and digital phones. Further information on Trusted
Computing Group (TCG) is available at http://www.trustedcomputinggroup.org

About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. 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.com.

About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system
solutions for automotive, industrial and multimarket sectors, for applications
in communication, as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon
operates through its subsidiaries in the US from San Jose, CA, in the
Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In fiscal year
2004 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 7.19 billion with
about 35,600 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol:
IFX). Further information is available at http://www.infineon.com.

This news release is available online at http://www.infineon.com/news and at
http://www.verisign.com.

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 risk that VeriSign's announced strategic relationships, including the
relationship described herein, may not result in additional products,
services, 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, 2004 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.