Trusted Websites Turn Green, Thanks To IE7

CNET News reported on February 6, 2007 that Markellos Diorinos, Product Manager, Windows, Microsoft, stated in an interview, the software titan made a change in its computer systems that let websites fixed with a new security certificate to display a green-filled address bar in IE7.

Diorinos reported that Microsoft has introduced several of the parts that are needed to get the plan working and it is coming near to a position where all the things are in place. Microsoft plans to advertise its green bar on February 5 to 9, 2007 at RSA Conference, San Francisco. It's an annual security confabulation kicked off by Mr. Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft.

The purpose of green address bar is to assure surfers that the Website is safe and secure to carry out the transactions. The bar has already appears on the protected Websites of VeriSign and Overstock.com. The identities of other sites will be disclosed at the RSA confab.

This new feature is a part of Micorsoft's policy to fight phishing. phishing is an online crime that employs fake sites to dup people into divulging their personal information. It costs millions of dollars to businesses and lessens consumers' trust in Internet.

Diorinos said that Microsoft wants to build up the users' confidence and make them feel secure again about online transactions. He added that extended validation (EV) is one of the ways they're doing to make it possible.

Internet Explorer 7 will display the green address bar on the sites with EV SSL certificate only.

EV SSL certificates are like those, which allow encrypted links between sites and browsers. The difference lies in that the identity of every certificate bearer has been confirmed. Requestors will be liable to stringent vetting process, which all issuers have to follow. Consequently, EV certificates cost more than SSL certificates.

With the adoption of EV SSL certificates, Microsoft has become the first browser manufacturer to adopt this certificate. It is planning to roll out publicity material giving information on green bars.

Related article: TRUSTe Certified Websites May Still Contain Malware

» SPAMfighter News - 2/9/2007