Super Certificate

The SGC SuperCert is thawte's strongest encryption certificate. It automatically steps up protection to a minimum of 128-bit encryption even with older browsers (IE 4.X or Netscape 4.06 and later) which have limited 40-bit or 56-bit encryption capabilities. That's over a trillion times stronger. 256-bit encryption can be enabled if the browser capability and the cipher suite installed on your web server are both 256-bit compatible.

Without an SGC-enabled certificate on your site, your visitors using certain older browsers and many Windows 2000 users will only receive 40- or 56-bit encryption. thawte is one of a very few Certification Authorities (CAs) with SGC-enabled SSL certificates that can provide true 128- or 256-bit encryption to the most website visitors. 128-bit encryption offers 288 times as many possible combinations as 40-bit encryption.

That's over a trillion times stronger.

All SSL Certificates require a Dedicated IP Address. If you currently have a Dotster shared hosting account, then you "share" an IP Address with other users. To upload your certificate, you will need to purchase a Dedicated IP Address.

If you have an Advanced, Pro or Premium hosting plan, you may purchase a Dedicated IP Address for $3 per month when uploading your certificate in your Dotster account.

Is this product right for my business?
Your choice of digital certificate depends mainly on whether your customers require identity assurance. This facility comes standard with both the SSL Web Server Certificate and the SGC SuperCert. After a stringent verification process, your company details are added as part of the certificate contents. Having established the need for either of these certificates, answering 'yes' to any of the following questions will indicate the need to install a thawte SGC SuperCert rather than a thawte SSL Web Server Certificate:

• Do you have an international audience/customer-base?
• Do you need to ensure that you are providing the best possible encryption for each and every visitor to your website?
• Do you conduct medium to high value e-commerce transactions via your web interface?

thawte's SGC SuperCert automatically steps up to 128-bit encryption for certain end-users with the Windows 2000 operating system who, in the past, would not receive 128-bit encryption irrespective of the version of Internet Explorer used. The systems affected are those that shipped prior to about March of 2001 and did not subsequently have Microsoft's High Encryption pack or Service Pack 2 installed.

If you require an SSL certificate that offers the highest possible protection in all circumstances, then thawte's SGC Certificate is the right product for you.

What does the certificate do?
A thawte SGC SuperCert enables Server Gated Cryptology (SGC) or "Step-Up" functionality in Netscape or Microsoft browsers, and turns 40-bit and 56-bit browsers into 128-bit strong browsers (IE 4.X or Netscape 4.06 and later) while users are visiting your site. 256-bit encryption can also be enabled if your client's browser capability and the cipher suite installed on your web server are both 256-bit compatible.

thawte is one of the few Certification Authorities (CAs) that have been awarded the trusted status and license rights to use this SGC technology.

When one applies for a thawte SGC SuperCert, the verification and authentication procedure that that particular individual/group/company is subject to is of the very highest standard. In fact, a stringent checklist of activities is undertaken to ensure that you really are who you claim to be. An overview of the validation process is as follows:

Step 1:  Authentication

• Company registration details confirmed
• Confirmation that domain is owned by requesting party

Step 2: Verification

• 3rd party telephone listing used to confirm that the authorized person requesting certificate is employed by requesting party.

The value of this process cannot be underestimated, and it is this that has been the foundation of thawte's enviable reputation as a rock-solid independent Certification Authority (CA).