Randall Schultz
MISBD 397A
Digital Certificates
Thursday, 10-11
Digital certificates are provided for a fee by trusted providers to the owners of websites for the purpose of providing website visitors with proof that the website is actually operated by the company that it claims to represent and to also verify that transactions conducted on the site will be free from outside interception.
Equifax offers two
main types of digital certificates, E-business ID and Quick SSL
Certificates. Equifax, based in
Equifax Quick SSL also offers 128 bit SSL transactions at an annual fee of $99. This service will make the lock symbol icon on Explorer and Netscape active on the computer screen and will provide secure transfers for website customers. Quick SSL does not include the True Site identity service.
Thawte is another provider of digital certificates that was founded primarily to provide security for any sensitive transfers of information on the Internet. Unlike Equifax, they do not have other backgrounds in providing financial information about organizations. Thawte offers a service known as 128 bit Supercert for $300 per year. Just like Equifax, Thawte also offers a seal style icon for your web page verifying that transactions on the site are secure with a link to their site for further proof that the page is legitimate. The major advantage offered by Thawte is the ability for website owners to sign up for two years of certification at a set price with sign up requirements and verification of company website identity very similar to Equifax. The 128-bit Thawte system seems to be very similar to the lower priced systems offered by Equifax.
Bibliography
GeoTrust Digital Certificates, [http://www.equifaxsecure.com/digitalcertificates/dc_webservcert.html], October 10, 2001.