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<div>Attached is Verisign's press release from this afternoon. Very
interesting.</div>
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<div><x-tab> </x-tab>-
Alan</div>
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<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center"><font
size="+2"><b>VeriSign Site Finder Service Update</b></font><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center"><i>VeriSign Will
Temporarily Suspend Web Navigation Service in Order to Continue to
Work With Internet Community Towards a Long-Term
Implementation</i><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><b>MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - October 03, 2003
-</b> VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of critical
infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications
networks, today announced that it will temporarily suspend its Site
Finder, a new service to improve Web navigation for Internet
users.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"Without so much as a hearing, ICANN
today formally asked us to shut down the Site Finder service. We will
accede to the request while we explore all of our options," said
Russell Lewis, executive vice president of VeriSign's Naming and
Directory Services Group. "During the more than two weeks that
Site Finder has been operational, there is no data to indicate that
the core operation of the Domain Name System or stability of the
Internet has been adversely affected. ICANN is using anecdotal and
isolated issues to attempt to regulate non-registry services, but in
the interests of further working with the technical community we will
temporarily suspend Site Finder."<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Launched September 15, Site Finder
provides useful tools for Internet users who mistype a domain name or
attempt to connect to a web site that doesn't exist. Instead of
receiving a cryptic error message, users receive a Web page that
offers a search box, a "Did You Mean?" listing of similar
domain names, and a listing of popular categories related to the
search request. Through Thursday, Oct. 2, Site Finder has been used
more than 40 million times by Internet users to get where they want to
go online.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"The service has been well received
by millions of Internet users who appreciate getting navigation tools
as opposed to the 'dead end' of an error message," added
Lewis.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>VeriSign announced on September 23 that
it has established a Technical Review Panel comprised of Internet
community leaders to help gather and analyze feedback about Site
Finder. That panel will assist VeriSign in the long-term
implementation of Site Finder.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"The next several weeks will be a
test as to whether innovation will occur within the Internet
infrastructure. The fact is that while the Internet has been used for
innovative purposes over the last decade, the core infrastructure has
suffered from a lack of innovation," said Lewis. "VeriSign
will argue vigorously for innovation because it not only improves the
Internet user experience but has implications for the vitality of the
DNS system and economic competitiveness and job growth."<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Times New Roman"><b>About
VeriSign</b></font><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), delivers
critical infrastructure services that make the Internet and
telecommunications networks more intelligent, reliable and secure.
Every day VeriSign helps thousands of businesses and millions of
consumers connect, communicate, and transact with confidence.
Additional news and information about the company is available at
www.verisign.com.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Verdana"><b>For more
information, contact:</b></font><br>
<font face="Verdana">VeriSign Media Relations: Tom Galvin,</font> <a
href="mailto:tgalvin@verisign.com"><font face="Verdana"
color="#0000FF"><u>tgalvin@verisign.com</u></font></a><font
face="Verdana">, 202.973.6600<br>
VeriSign Director of Government Relations: Shane Tews,</font> <a
href="mailto:stews@verisign.com"><font face="Verdana"
color="#0000FF"><u>stews@verisign.com</u></font></a><font
face="Verdana">, 202.973.6600</font><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center"><i>###</i><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Statements in this announcement other
than historical data and information, including but not limited to new
business relationships and new service offerings, 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 increasing competition and pricing
pressure from competing services offered at prices below our prices,
market acceptance of our existing services, the inability of VeriSign
to successfully develop and market new services or the failure of new
services to gain customer acceptance, reduced demand for our services
as a result of continued softness in information technology and
telecommunications spending by our customers, and the risk that
VeriSign's strategic relationships may not result in additional
products, services, customers and revenues. 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, 2002 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.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-2"
color="#808080"><b>__________________________________________________</b
></font><br>
</blockquote>
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