Foundation Repair: Extended Validation SSL - A New Model for SSL Certificates and Browser Trust

Overview

In 2005, the longstanding Internet browser trust model, which had served as a foundation for many billions of dollars of e-commerce, was starting to show signs of age. Based on Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), certificates and the ubiquitous padlock icon, the browser trust model was reworked to help renew consumer confidence and to better suit handling e-commerce transaction volumes as they continued to increase. The new model was defined by a group called the CA/Browser Forum, and consumers first saw the results of their work in January 2007. This paper outlines why the group was formed, what it is working toward and the impact it has on consumers and Web site operators.