[thelist] Verisign's 128 bit SSL Certs $995?

[Joshua Olson]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maisha Walker
> Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 9:02 PM
> 
> Can anyone with expertise on SSL comment on Verisign's $995 
> price tag as compared to many many other companies that offer 
> certs for $89-$130?

Maisha,

It sounds to me like a marketing hype.  

Here is a bit of information on SGC:

http://www.whichssl.com/myths_about_sgc.html

Basically, SGC allows client browsers to use 128 bit security even if they
were restricted to something less.  This situation came to be because of
export restrictions imposed by the US Government.  Once these restrictions
were lifted back in 2000, vendors such as MS started distributing browsers
that were natively capable of handling 128 bit encryption, therefore making
SGC moot.

Even the certs offered by InstantSSL for 80 bucks a year support 128 bit
encryption, so long as the browser supports it.  Since most do, SGC
certificates are not needed.

<><><><><><><><><><>
Joshua L. Olson
WAE Tech Inc.
http://www.waetech.com/
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Fax: 413.812.4864

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