These certificates can be used to digitally sign and encryptemail; encrypt code and documents; and to authenticate and authorize user connections to websites via TLS/SSL.
CAcert Inc. Association
On 24 July 2003, Duane Groth incorporated CAcert Inc. as a non-profit association registered[2] in New South Wales, Australia and after, in September 2024, moved to Europe in Geneva, Switzerland. CAcert Inc runs CAcert.org—a community-driven certificate authority.
In 2004, the Dutch Internet pioneer Teus Hagen became involved. He served as board member and, in 2008, as a president.[3]
Certificate Trust status
CAcert.org's root certificates are not included in the most widely deployed certificate stores[4] and has to be added by its customers.[5] As of 2021, most browsers, email clients, and operating systems do not automatically trust certificates issued by CAcert. Thus, users receive an "untrusted certificate" warning upon trying to view a website providing X.509 certificate issued by CAcert, or view emails authenticated with CAcert certificates in Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, etc. CAcert uses its own certificate on its website.
Web browsers
Discussion for inclusion of CAcert root certificate in Mozilla Application Suite and Mozilla Firefox started in 2004. Mozilla had no CA certificate policy at the time. Eventually, Mozilla developed a policy which required CAcert to improve their management system and conduct audits. In April 2007, CAcert formally withdrew its application for inclusion in the Mozilla root program.[6] At the same time, the CA/Browser Forum was established to facilitate communication among browser vendors and Certificate Authorities. Mozilla's advice was incorporated into "baseline requirements" used by most major browser vendors. Progress towards meeting these requirements can hardly be expected in the near future.[6]
To create higher-trust certificates, users can participate in a web of trust system whereby users physically meet and verify each other's identities.[14][15] CAcert maintains the number of assurance points for each account. Assurance points can be gained through various means, primarily by having one's identity physically verified by users classified as "Assurers".
Having more assurance points allows users more privileges such as writing a name in the certificate and longer expiration times on certificates. A user with at least 100 assurance points is a Prospective Assurer, and may—after passing an Assurer Challenge[16]—verify other users; more assurance points allow the Assurer to assign more assurance points to others.
Smith, Curtis (25 September 2006). Pro Open Source Mail: building an enterprise mail solution. Berkeley, Calif.: Apress. p. 132. ISBN978-1-59059-598-5. OCLC255341703.
^FreeBSD Security Officer (29 June 2008). "ca-roots". FreshPorts. Retrieved 16 December 2013. The ca_root_ns port basically makes no guarantees other than that the certificates comes from the Mozilla project.
