Released on = December 21, 2006, 8:25 am

Press Release Author = Comodo Group

Industry = Internet & Online

Press Release Summary = Comodo usability studies reveals that Comodo\'s PKI based Two
Factor solution integrates usability with secure authentication in a low cost,
highly configurable architecture that can be deployed within days.

Press Release Body = Jersey City, NJ (December 21, 2006) - Community banks and
credit unions are taking a best practices approach to mutual authentication by
opting for two factor solutions that offer the highest levels of security and
authentication without sacrificing usability. To meet regulatory guidelines, many
financial institutions felt compelled to quickly deploy a two-factor solution even
though it was expected to be difficult for both users and the bank. By contrast,
Comodo\'s Two Factor authentication model for the mid-market is based on a usability
study that identified four key drivers; 1) ease of customer adoption, 2) no
bank-side integration 3) ease of configuration and 4) low cost.

The recent, rapid adoption by banks and credit unions of PKI- based client
certificates confirms this \"needs based model\" since it recognizes that
authentication - no matter how secure - can not sacrifice usability. \"Previously,
most small to mid sized financial organizations were simply focused on being
compliant within the timeframe without trying deploy a best practices approach
largely because virtually all solutions either required major IT deployments or were
difficult for consumers to adopt or both.\" said Andrew Pynes, Executive VP at
Comodo. \"But now, client certificates combine the best of both worlds - security and
ease of use - so banks and credit unions can provide a better customer experience
within a highly secured environment.\"

Comodo Two Factor (TF) was developed using customer insights garnered from research
among bank and credit union customers to understand the optimum hierarchy of needs
that balance customer usability and security. The result of this research led to the
development of Comodo TF that utilizes PKI-based digital certificates within a
highly flexible, low cost and configurable architecture. Comodo, as a leading
Certification Authority manages the entire lifecycle of the digital certificates via
an authentication/proxy server.

Therefore, instead of just complying with the guidelines, financial institutions of
all sizes can adopt a best practices approach to mutual authentication without
needing a dedicated IT staff to manage it. With Comodo TF, authentication
requirements are aligned to a customer engagement process that is the easiest for
the customer to adopt - largely because the customer does not have to change their
current behavior. The customer simply needs to go through a one-time automated
authentication/ installation of a digital certificate onto their PC, which
effectively converts the PC into a \"smart card\" or authentication token. Once
installed, a customer does not change their behavior and can simply continue to use
their existing username/ password as normal yet be authenticated to the bank in a
more secure manner.

The ease of customer adoption in combination with a highly secure infrastructure has
resulted in Comodo TF being selected, on average, every 8 days by another bank or
credit union. In some cases, institutions reevaluated previously selected
technologies in favor of Comodo TF since this solution was seen as being superior in
terms of customer usability and ease of bank deployment. Benchmark Federal Credit
Union, Boiling Springs Savings Bank, Community Bank of Tri-County, Harleysville
Savings Bank and Roma Bank are some examples of financial institutions that have
most recently adopted Comodo TF.

\"We\'ve witnessed an important transition in how financial institutions value
authentication technology,\" said Melih Abdulhayoglu, President and CEO of Comodo.
\"Whereas in the past, organizations tended to make investments to meet the basic
requirements, now these institutions are able to move up to a best practices
approach that can enhance customer satisfaction but be highly secure and cost
effective. This authentication model is best delivered by a Certification Authority
because our core competency is to enable authenticated, sensitive transactions which
can be trusted by all parties.\"

More details are available at www.comodo.com/banking

About Comodo

Comodo is a leading global provider of Identity and Trust Assurance services on the
Internet, with over 200,000 customers worldwide. With global offices in the US, UK,
Ukraine and India, the company offers businesses and consumers the intelligent
security, authentication and assurance services necessary to ensure trust in online
transactions.

Comodo helps enterprises address digital ecommerce and infrastructure needs with
reliable, third generation solutions that improve customer relationships, enhance
customer trust and create efficiencies across digital ecommerce operations. Comodo\'s
solutions include integrated Web hosting management solutions, infrastructure
services, digital e-commerce services, digital certification, identity assurance,
customer privacy and vulnerability management solutions. For additional information
on Comodo - Creating Trust OnlineT - please visit: www.comodogroup.com.

Web Site = http://www.comodo.com

Contact Details = 525 Washington Blvd. Jersey City, NJ 07310