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SSL Certificate FAQs
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High Assurance SSL FAQ
High Assurance SSL Certificates are a direct
response to the rise in Internet fraud, which erodes consumer confidence
in online transactions. In 2005, 84% of respondents to a Forrester Research
study said they don’t think retailers are doing enough to protect their
customers online and 24% did not make purchases online due to security
concerns.* Before customers share their confidential data online,
they want proof of identification from a trusted source. The High Assurance
SSL standard raises the bar on verification of SSL certificates and
adds visual displays to high security browsers.
Questions
What
is High Assurance SSL?
What
is the High Assurance Standard?
How
will High Assurance SSL increase consumer confidence?
What
are the benefits of High Assurance SSL to Web site owners?
When
will High Assurance SSL Certificates be available for purchase?
Where
can I buy a High Assurance SSL Certificate?
What
can I do to secure my site and increase consumer confidence today?
Answers
What is High Assurance SSL?
High Assurance SSL Certificates work with high
security Web browsers to clearly identify a Web site’s organizational
identity. For example, if you use Internet Explorer 7.0 to access a
Web site secured with an SSL Certificate that meets the High Assurance
Standard, the URL window will turn green. A display next to the green
bar will toggle between the organization name listed in the certificate
and the Certificate Authority that issued the certificate (VeriSign,
for example). Older versions of browsers will display High Assurance
SSL Certificates with the same security symbols as existing SSL Certificates.
What is the High Assurance
Standard?
To purchase a High Assurance SSL Certificate,
an organization has to go through a validation process that meets the
High Assurance Standard established by the CA/Browser Forum (soon to
be released). In addition to confirming domain name ownership, the process
will likely include authenticating the authority of the contact person
requesting the certificate, verification of the business with government
or third party business registries, and other methods.
How will High Assurance SSL
increase consumer confidence?
As people use the Web for commerce, business,
and social activities, they share personal and confidential information.
High profile incidents of fraud and phishing scams have made Internet
users very concerned about identity theft. Before they enter sensitive
data, they want proof that the Web site can be trusted and their information
will be encrypted. Without it, they might abandon their transaction
and do business elsewhere. High security browsers and High Assurance
SSL Certificates provide third-party verification using a visual display
that gives consumers confidence and builds trust in e-commerce.
What are the benefits of High
Assurance SSL to Web site owners?
A High Assurance SSL Certificate helps your
visitors complete secure transactions with confidence and puts your
organization in a leadership position. If your site has the “green bar”
in IE 7 and your competitor’s site does not, you appear to be more trusted
and more legitimate. That’s a competitive advantage in the world of
e-commerce. For businesses with a high profile brand, using High Assurance
SSL is an effective defense against phishing scams. When customers see
the green bar and other displays of trust, they can interact with you
online, with confidence.
When will High Assurance SSL
Certificates be available for purchase?
High Assurance SSL Certificates are not yet
available for sale from any CA. The CA/Browser Forum, a group of leading
Certificate Authorities (CAs) and browser vendors, is setting a standard
practice of certificate validation and method of display. Once the standard
is approved, CAs, which adopt the new high assurance practices, must
pass a WebTrust audit. Then they will be able to issue High Assurance
SSL Certificates.
Where can I buy a High Assurance
SSL Certificate?
High Assurance SSL Certificates will be available
from CAs that have adopted the High Assurance Standard and passed regular
audits by a WebTrust auditor. To confirm an SSL vendor’s claims of High
Assurance, review their Certification Practice Statement and WebTrust
audit. With the industry’s most rigorous validation practices for the
past 11 years and the most trusted security mark on the Internet, VeriSign
is a leading contributor to the CA/Browser Forum High Assurance standard.
Our Certification
Practice Statement outlines our existing authentication and
verification processes.
What can I do to secure my
site and increase consumer confidence today?
VeriSign is the leading SSL Certificate Authority,
enabling every site visitor to enjoy the strongest encryption available
to them. Purchase one of our SSL Certificates and display the VeriSign
Secured™ Seal, the most trusted security mark on the Internet, to show
your customers you care about their security. Buy
SSL Certificates.
*Lauri Giesen,
”Hand-holding:
Fraud-weary consumers look for the seal of approval,” Internet
Retailer, March 2006.
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