Test Before You Buy

Certificate authorities will gladly give you examples of companies and websites that are using their services. Test a few of them using Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer to make sure that each browser accepts their certificate. Go with the company with the least amount of issues with their certificates.

GlobalSign made the right choice to suspend new certificates based on Comodohacker's threat. It put their company in front of the problem and positioned them as a company that could be trusted to manage security threats properly. I would be much more concerned if a certificate authority did not show the same level of concern or any concern at all. The Comodohacker and other such threats do not diminish the role of security certificates. If anything, they illustrate the dire need for such a service, especially in today's hacker-ridden climate.

Angela West dreams of opening a Fallout-themed pub featuring wait staff with Pip-Boys. She's written for big insurance companies, small wildlife control businesses, gourmet food chains, and more. Follow her on Twitter at .