How to Maximise Value from EV

Internet visitors who use the latest high-security Web browsers will see the green browser address bar when they visit your Web site. Green means go worldwide and your Web site visitors intuitively understand it as a positive sign. By explaining Extended Validation, you can help them understand the importance of the green bar to their personal online security.

"Why did my browser address bar turn green?"

Keep your site visitors on the buy path when they have this question by adding a link with a simple explanation. Research by the VeriSign User Experience Testing Group found that customers were more likely to view the explanation, the closer the link was to the green browser address bar. Suggested locations for the link:

  • At the top of each EV-secured Web page on your site.
  • From the EV Protected icon or other security related information on your Web site.

To help increase customer confidence and awareness, you may include information about Extended Validation in offline customer communications such as direct marketing, invoicing, account statements or advertising.

Sample Image to Explain Extended Validation

Here is an image along with instructions on how to upload it to your site to help customers understand the green browser address bar.

You're visiting a site protected by:

EV Enabled

VeriSign® Extended Validation SSL

Upload Instructions:

  1. Download and extract the image from the .zip file and publish the image to your web site.
  2. Enter your URL for the image:
  3. Generate the script below for placement on your web page(s):
    Create Script

    Select & Copy

  4. Add the html code to the selected web page(s) where you want promote Extended Validation and the Green Address Bar.
  5. Test and publish web page(s).

Sample HTML Text to Explain Extended Validation

25 Word Explanation
You are visiting a Web page secured with Extended Validation (EV) SSL, the highest standard in the Internet security industry for Web site identity authentication.

50 Word Explanation
You are visiting a site secured with Extended Validation (EV) SSL, the highest standard for Web site authentication. EV SSL signifies that our organisation has passed a rigorous identity authentication process, and triggers the browser address bar to display https:// and turn green in high security browsers.

100 Word Explanation
You are visiting a site secured with Extended Validation (EV) SSL, the highest standard for Web site authentication. EV SSL signifies that our organisation has passed a rigorous identity authentication process. In high-security browsers, an EV SSL Certificate triggers the browser address bar to turn green, display https://, and show the name of the organisation that owns this Web site and VeriSign, the certificate authority that verified the owner’s identity using a rigorous authentication process. When your address bar turns green, be sure to look to see that the owner of this Web site is the organisation you intended to visit.

Full Page Explanation

This Web site is secured with an Extended Validation SSL Certificate.
Extended Validation SSL Certificate Green Address Bar
Consider replacing this green bar screen image with one containing your Web URL.

Why did the address bar turn green?
You are visiting a site secured with Extended Validation (EV) SSL, the highest standard for Web site authentication. EV SSL signifies that our organisation has passed a rigorous identity authentication process. In high-security browsers, an EV SSL Certificate triggers the browser address bar to turn green, display https://, and show the name of the organisation that owns this Web site and VeriSign, the certificate authority that verified the owner’s identity using a rigorous authentication process. When your address bar turns green, be sure to look to see that the owner of this Web site is the organisation you intended to visit.

What does SSL mean?
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates are the standard method used on the Internet to secure communications between Web users and Web sites. This technology both authenticates the identity of a Web site and encrypts communications between the user and the Web site. For over a decade SSL Certificates have served to authenticate Web sites using different methods of authentication. Some Certificate Authorities merely verify that the organisation requesting the certificate has the right to use their stated Internet domain address. More rigorous authentication methods include requiring proof of identity, proof of organisational status and proof that the person is authorised by the domain holder to request a certificate.

What is Extended Validation SSL?
Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates represent the highest standard for authentication approved by the CA/Browser Forum, a group of leading SSL Certificate Authorities (CAs) and browser vendors. The standard requires that every Web site secured with EV SSL pass a certified process for rigorously verifying the identity of the organisation responsible for that Web site. The validation process requires the CA to authenticate the certificate applicant’s domain ownership and organisational identity, as well as the individual approver’s employment with the applicant, and authority to obtain the Extended Validation SSL Certificate. The VeriSign Certification Practice Statement outlines our authentication and verification processes.

Why does rigorous authentication matter?
When you follow a link to a Web site, how do you know it is real? There are criminals who create Web sites that look familiar in order to trick visitors into revealing personal and financial information. These “phishing” web sites can be very difficult to distinguish from legitimate Web sites. An Extended Validation SSL Certificate displays the authenticated name of the organisation that purchased the SSL Certificate. If the SSL Certificate does not have Extended Validation, the Web site visitor will have to find another way to establish trust with the Web site such as clicking on a trust mark.

Why did you choose Extended Validation for this Web site?
We chose Extended Validation (EV) SSL to secure your online transaction with us because we take your online security very seriously. EV SSL signifies that our organisation has passed the strict EV identity authentication process.

Need More Info?
Call 0800 032 2101 or +44 (0) 208 600 0740 Request information online.
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Deployment of the VeriSign Secured Seal and EV SSL Certificates was an easy decision. We're ecstatic with the ease of implementation and the subsequent decrease in shopping cart abandonment. Case study.


Geoff Atkinson,
Marketing Chief of Staff,
Overstock.com