TRUSTe and GeoTrust Partner to Promote Safer Online Transactions

Educating Consumers to Recognize Trusted Websites is the Common Goal

San Francisco, CA and Wellesley, MA– December 13, 2004 – TRUSTe, the leading online privacy certification and seal program and GeoTrust, Inc., a leader in identity and security solutions for e-business, today announced that they will work together with the goal of educating consumers to more easily recognize trusted e-commerce sites. GeoTrust will also be incorporating TRUSTe members’ site seal information into its free TrustWatch identity verification toolbar and search site. The partnership illustrates TRUSTe's and GeoTrust’s continued commitment to build trust between consumers and businesses in the evolving networked world.

“Internet phishing and fraud are rapidly undermining consumer confidence to the detriment of legitimate online businesses,” said David Currie, vice president of business development at TRUSTe. “GeoTrust and TRUSTe are committed to restoring trust through education and by developing policies and technologies that will protect privacy and help restore trust on the internet.”

The TRUSTe seal, displayed on leading e-commerce sites, indicates to consumers that the site adheres to strict privacy standards. TrustWatch,™ a free toolbar and search site from GeoTrust, is used to verify the identity and security of websites requesting confidential information to help consumers guard against fraudulent or unsecured transactions.

TRUSTe privacy seal data has been incorporated into the TrustWatch site verification ratings. With one click in the TrustWatch toolbar, consumers will be able to obtain additional identity, security and privacy information for sites they are visiting, or be warned that the site is not able to be deemed trustworthy. TRUSTe will also promote the use of TrustWatch to its member companies and the Internet community via its web site. Additionally, the two companies are working on future technology solutions designed to stem the tide of fraudulent online activity.

“TRUSTe and GeoTrust have become two of the most recognizable brands on the Internet, and convey the highest level of consumer confidence,” said Chris Bailey, GeoTrust’s chief technology officer. “By incorporating TRUSTe and other trust factors into TrustWatch, we are making it simpler for consumers to understand the components of secure transactions – from privacy to encryption to identity verification.”

About TRUSTe
TRUSTe is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling individuals and organizations to establish trusting relationships based on respect for personal identity and information in the evolving networked world.

Founded in 1997, TRUSTe runs an award-winning global privacy certification and seal program. Its seal programs are considered Safe Harbors for the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the EU Safe Harbor Framework. Today, TRUSTe maintains the largest privacy seal program with more than 1,400 Web sites certified throughout the world including AOL, Microsoft, IBM, Nationwide and The New York Times. TRUSTe's mission extends standards, certification and oversight into email with Bonded Sender and wireless with the Wireless Advisory Committee. For more information on TRUSTe please visit www.truste.org.

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About GeoTrust, Inc.
GeoTrust, Inc., a leader in Identity and Trust Services, helps organizations of all sizes secure e-commerce transactions, trusted identities and fully managed trusted environments for conducting e-business. GeoTrust’s Web Security Services offer hosting providers and businesses with world-class digital certificates for fast transaction security and patent-pending smart-seals to ensure a trusted identity on the Web. GeoTrust also offers managed security services for large enterprises. With more than 70,000 companies in over 140 countries using its technology for transaction security, GeoTrust is the second largest digital certificate provider in the world. GeoTrust can be reached at www.geotrust.com or 800-944-0492.

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