CAcert.org Certificate Assurance

CAcert.org is a community driven Certificate Authority that issues certificates to the public at large for free. CAcert's goal is to promote awareness and education on computer security through the use of encryption, specifically with the X.509 family of standards. Everyone should have the right to security and to protect their privacy, not just those looking to run ecommerce sites.

It is easy to obtain certificates you can use with your email program. You can use these not only to encrypt, but to prove that your email really does originate from you.
For administrators looking to protect the services they offer, CAcert provides host and wild card certificates which you can issue almost immediately. Not only can you use these to protect websites, but also POP3, SMTP and IMAP connections, to list but a few.

If you're extremely serious about encryption, you can join CAcert's Assurance Programme and Web of Trust. This allows you to have your identity verified to obtain added benefits, including longer length certificates and the ability to include your name on email certificates.

To participate in the CAcert certificate assurance at SANE 2006, you need to show up somewhat prepared:

• Join CAcert to establish your personal account (login account).
• Bring at least one official identification document, like passport, drivers license or official ID-card to the SANE 2006 conference. Multiple formal ID's will collect more trust points in an assurance session. At least one ID should contain your recent photo.

The CAcert Certificate Assurance Procedure

At the SANE 2006 conference visit the CAcert booth (easily recognized by their large poster) and ask CAcert assurers to verify your identity and assure "trust points" to you. CAcert assurers will be available during the Free Software Bazaar and both conference days, and most likely during the tutorial sessions too.

CAcert assurers will assign assurance points or trust points. The amount depends on the type of ID you present (i.e. an official passport is of higher value than a univerity ID card) and the "grade" of the assurer you happen to talk to.

If you manage to collect 50 points you can request CAcert certificates bearing your own name, since your identity has now been established. Collecting 50 points at SANE 2006 is a walk in the park.

If you collect 100 points or more, you can act as CAcert assurer yourself. Collecting 100+ points at SANE 2006 shouldn't be much of a problem either, since there are many assurers around.