ScanAlert(TM) Partners with C I Host to Provide Hacker Safe Certification of eCommerce Sites [27th May 2003]

CHANDLER, Ariz. and NAPA, Calif., May 27, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- C I Host Corporation, a leader in the Web hosting and Internet infrastructure industry, announced that customers of its BusinessHQ.com community can now subscribe to ScanAlert's HACKER SAFE Web site security certification service.

Starting at $149 per month, HACKER SAFE certification is available immediately and provides a key competitive advantage to BusinessHQ-hosted retailers by helping them alleviate consumers' persistent concerns about hackers and online credit card theft. Key benefits to Business HQ.com sites of earning HACKER SAFE certification are increased sales, in addition to cost-efficient site security management.

"ScanAlert offers a unique security certification service that will enable our customers to distinguish their online retailing sites in a very crowded market," said Christopher Faulkner, CEO of C I Host. "ScanAlert already scans our Web servers, so we are very comfortable in recommending it to BusinessHQ.com customers."

"C I Host continues its leadership and innovation in the hosting business by launching BusinessHQ.com to provide unique online marketing and value added services to their customers," said Ken Leonard, ScanAlert's CEO. "HACKER SAFE certification will enable customers to address one of the biggest issues slowing the growth of retail ecommerce."

About HACKER SAFE Certification

ScanAlert's patent-pending HACKER SAFE service provides independent certification of Web site security. ScanAlert's vulnerability database analyzes daily the online retailer's server configurations to reveal known security holes that could put customer data at risk, which are then reported with detailed patch information to site administrators. ScanAlert certifies the ongoing application of patches, and as long as the site remains secure, continually serves a HACKER SAFE certification mark directly to the retailer's Web site from ScanAlert's network.

During a recent independently audited behavioral analysis of 300,020 unique online consumers, 11 online retailers recorded a 20.4 percent average increase in orders attributable to HACKER SAFE certification. (More information is available at http://scanalert.com/Merchants?tab=3 ).

About Business HQ.com

BusinessHQ.com is a powerful, interactive Web site where current and aspiring small business owners can find information and tools to become successful. Entrepreneurs, consultants, professionals and small businesses around the world can get help to write business plans, find financing, incorporate their company, design a marketing plan, set up an online presence, obtain strategic advice and leverage the business community.

Immediate Availability

HACKER SAFE certification is immediately available to BusinessHQ.com customers by calling ScanAlert directly at 877-302-9965.

About C I Host

C I Host (www.cihost.com), is a Web hosting and Internet solutions provider, domain name registrar and application service provider serving 175,000 individual consumers and businesses in 179 countries worldwide. C I Host operates three diverse data centers across the United States, with its main facility and Network Operations Center in Bedford, Texas. C I Host also has offices in Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago and London.

About ScanAlert

ScanAlert is a privately held Internet security auditing company with headquarters in Napa, Calif. and technological development offices in Palo Alto, Calif. ScanAlert makes Web sites secure from hackers and certifies it with a HACKER SAFE certification mark to their customers, who respond by making more purchases. According to published statistics on hacking crime, sites earning HACKER SAFE certification will prevent over 99 percent of hacker break-ins. For more information, please visit www.scanalert.com.

SOURCE ScanAlert

Nancy St. Pierre, Director of Public Relations of C I Host,
+1-888-868-9931 ext. 7006, or nancys@cihost.com; or Nigel Ravenhill, Director
of Marketing Communications of ScanAlert, +1-707-252-9625, or
pr@scanalert.com