SSL Certificate FAQ - VeriSign Secured™ Seal - Ecommerce Security from VeriSign, Inc.

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What is the VeriSign Secured® Seal?
The VeriSign Secured Seal is the number one sign of trust on the Internet. Recognized worldwide, the VeriSign Secured Seal appears on Web pages secured by VeriSign SSL Certificates as a dynamic, animated graphic. A static version is also available. Site visitors click on the seal to verify your site information in real time. Add the seal to your secure site by following the installation instructions after you purchase a VeriSign SSL Certificate.

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Why is it important to display the VeriSign Secured Seal on my Web site?
According to the VeriSign Secured Seal Research Review (PDF), 86% of Americans are concerned that they may be a victim of identity theft. 56% of online shoppers have abandoned a shopping cart/basket or failed to complete an online purchase due to security concerns. Displaying the seal on your Web site reassures visitors, leading to increased visitor-to-sales conversions, lower shopping cart abandonment, and a larger average purchase price. As phishing, identity theft, and other online scams increase, the VeriSign Secured Seal is an indispensable tool in your effort to improve your customers’ perception of safety and trust when they do business online.

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How much does the VeriSign Secured Seal cost?
The VeriSign Secured Seal is included with your VeriSign SSL Certificate purchase. After you purchase your certificate, simply download and install the seal.

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How do I install the VeriSign Secured Seal on my Web site?
After your SSL Certificate has been approved and issued, your Web developer or Web site administrator must go to the VeriSign Web site to download the seal script and add it to the appropriate pages. The person who installs the seal will need to know the common name used to purchase the SSL Certificate and be able to update the HTML of the pages where the seal will be added. The seal consists of a small line of code that links to a VeriSign-generated pop-up window containing information about your VeriSign SSL Certificate. To begin the installation process, go to VeriSign Secured® Seal.

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How soon will the VeriSign Secured Seal display on my site?
Installing the seal takes just a few minutes. Once the pages are published and your SSL Certificate has been authenticated, the seal may take up to 2 hours to display. VeriSign must add your common name to the database. If this is the first time you’ve installed the seal using this common name, please allow up to 24 hours before contacting VeriSign Customer Support.

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Do I need to reinstall the seal after renewing my SSL Certificate?
No. You only need to install the VeriSign Secured Seal once. The validity period will be updated on the seal pop-up window automatically.

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Why should I install the animated version of the seal?
The VeriSign Secured Seal uses JavaScript and can be served from VeriSign with or without Flash content. The Flash content animates the seal, making it more visible to site visitors and more valuable to you. However, if your Web site does not support Flash content, you can select a non-Flash version of the seal during the installation process.

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Where should I display the VeriSign Secured Seal on my Web site?
The majority of shoppers expect to see trust marks displayed where personal information is entered and transactions completed. According to the VeriSign Secured Seal Research Review (PDF), 79% of online shoppers expect to see a trust mark displayed on a Web site’s home page. You can display the seal on any Web page within the domain secured by your VeriSign SSL Certificate. VeriSign recommends that you insert the seal where it will be clearly visible without scrolling on pages where site visitors may look for proof of security and authenticity:

Your home page
Shopping cart and checkout pages
Log-in screens and on secure application pages
On pages with security or privacy policy information
Next to checkout or submit buttons

Why isn't there a time and date stamp or organization name on the VeriSign Secured Seal?
VeriSign determined that online shoppers prefer a clean, simple seal design with maximum recognition based on extensive market testing of almost one thousand subjects across four continents. The date, time, and SSL customers’ organization names now appear on the seal’s verification page.

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Can I customize the VeriSign Secured Seal?
Do not modify the VeriSign Secured Seal in any way. The seal is a widely recognized symbol of your Web site's authenticity and security. Any change violates the terms and conditions of the VeriSign Secured Seal license agreement and diminishes its value to you.

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What should I do if I discover a seal that is misused?
If you encounter a VeriSign Secured Seal that is used incorrectly, please report it to VeriSign via the Report Seal Misuse form. Misuse might include:

A site that does not employ an appropriate VeriSign service
Mismatched information on the seal’s verification page
Missing information pop-up when the seal is clicked
A modified seal
A seal used in phishing or illegal activities

What is the difference between the VeriSign Secured Seal and the VeriSign Secured Partner Program?
The VeriSign Secured Seal is a dynamic, animated graphic you insert on your secured Web pages. The VeriSign Secured Partner Program will display a VeriSign trust mark next to secured sites on the results page of Secured Partner shopping and search Web sites and in certain software applications. By default your seal preferences are set to display to online shoppers who seek out your products and services. Any VeriSign SSL customer can elect not to participate in this program. If you would like to edit your preferences follow these steps:

Login to manage your SSL Certificates.
Search for your SSL Certificate.
Choose "Set Display Preferences". Here you can uncheck "Include my domain in the VeriSign Secured Partner Program".

FAQ: VeriSign Secured® Seal