Consolidated Statements Of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 873,592	$ 771,978	$ 680,578
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	167,600	165,246	156,676
Sales and marketing	97,809	97,432	83,390
Research and development	61,694	53,277	53,664
General and administrative	89,927	111,122	137,704
Restructuring charges	(765)	15,512	16,861
Total costs and expenses	416,265	442,589	448,295
Operating income	457,327	329,389	232,283
Interest expense	(50,196)	(147,332)	(157,667)
Non-operating income, net	5,564	11,530	20,738
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	412,695	193,587	95,354
Income tax expense	(100,210)	(55,031)	(25,322)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	312,485	138,556	70,032
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	7,547	4,335	763,822
Net income	320,032	142,891	833,854
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	0	0	(2,887)
Net income attributable to Verisign stockholders	320,032	142,891	830,967
Net income	320,032	142,891	833,854
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	110	7,327
Realized foreign currency translation adjustments, included in net income	0	0	(29,076)
Change in unrealized gain on investments, net of tax	2,757	688	2,586
Realized gain on investments, net of tax, included in net income	(61)	(2,548)	(456)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,696	(1,750)	(19,619)
Comprehensive income	322,728	141,141	814,235
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	0	0	7,739
Comprehensive income attributable to Verisign stockholders	322,728	141,141	821,974
Basic income per share
Continuing operations	$ 1.99	$ 0.84	$ 0.39
Discontinued operations	$ 0.05	$ 0.03	$ 4.29
Net income	$ 2.04	$ 0.87	$ 4.68
Diluted income per share
Continuing operations	$ 1.91	$ 0.83	$ 0.39
Discontinued operations	$ 0.04	$ 0.03	$ 4.25
Net income	$ 1.95	$ 0.86	$ 4.64
Shares used to compute net income per share
Basic	156,953	165,408	177,534
Diluted	163,909	166,887	178,965
Amounts attributable to Verisign stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	312,485	138,556	70,032
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	7,547	4,335	760,935
Net income attributable to Verisign stockholders	$ 320,032	$ 142,891	$ 830,967