UPDATE 2-VeriSign posts Q1 profit

* Q1 EPS $0.34 vs -$0.04/shr a year ago

* Q1 rev up 8 pct

* Sees Q2 core business rev to be flat to slightly up from Q1

* Shares rise 8 percent (Adds conference call comments, updates share movement)

May 7 (Reuters) - Internet security and naming services company VeriSign Inc (VRSN.O) swung to a quarterly profit, helped by an increase in revenue from its core naming business, sending its shares up about 8 percent.

Results for the first quarter were driven by strength in its naming business -- the company's largest segment -- and the authentication services unit.

Revenue from the naming segment rose 17 percent and authentication revenue rose 8 percent, the company said in a conference call with analysts.

The better-than-expected growth in naming was driven by international expansion and strength from domain names being registered for the purpose of online advertising, a company executive said.

For the second quarter, VeriSign forecast revenue from its core business to be flat to slightly up sequentially. It also said expects its Idefense segment to contribute about $10 million to 2009 revenue. [ID:nWNAB6108]