What is a Certificate Authority (CA)?
Internet Security means not just making sure that data is not intercepted or corrupted, but that a computer user is who they say they are. Just as in real life you may need a passport from a trusted source to prove who you are, a Certificate Authority server can be set up to issue certificates to prove who people are online. A Certificate Authority is an organization or individual that provides certificates and a mechanism for verifying their authenticity. Large companies such as Microsoft issue certificates to guarantee downloaded software, and companies like Verisign provide a similar service to companies who do not want to run their own Certificate Authority. Internet users should be cautious about accepting certificates. If you are unexpectely confronted with a pop-up request to “trust certificates from such-and-such a company” the safest and easiest thing to do is to click No. Even Microsoft certificates have been faked. Users are sometimes concerned receiving messages that “certi
The Certificate Authority (CA) is the organization that creates and regulates the policy and procedure for authenticating, issuing, renewing, and suspending digital certificates. Working with the Registration Authority (RA), the CA authorizes certificates and ensures the legitimacy of participating parties.
