'Net Features : netcraft

GlobalSign Alert Service Helps Fight Phishing

Michael Garrity — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

In order to provide its customers with real-time alerts about their SSL Certificates, which tell them when their websites are compromised and used to support phishing attacks, certification authority GlobalSign has partnered with Internet services provider Netcraft.

The GlobalSign Netcraft Phishing Alert service will first tell GlobalSign when one of its customers’ websites is being used to support phishing attacks, and the company will then immediately notify and advise the customers on remediation steps so they can quickly fix the problem and stop the attack. And, if GlobalSign discovers that a site has specifically created for malicious intent, it will revoke its certificate.

This service, the first of its kind, means customers can maximize their investment in GlobalSign with additional security against these highly prevalent, not to mention persistent, criminal attacks. For a partner, Netcraft was an ideal selection, as it is continually produces an updated phishing feed (one that is currently used by all of the major Web browsers), and it has blocked more than 5 million phishing attacks to date.

Websites are required to have an SSL Certificate to activate the SSL/TLS technology built into a browser or server. Once it’s activated, it will provide an encrypted link between the browser and server to secure transactions or data submission. As SSL trust signals are meant to inspire confidence in users, it can be especially disastrous for consumers and website owners if a site is compromised and used to deploy phishing pages. Luckily for GlobalSign customers, the GlobalSign Netcraft Phishing Alert will significantly reduce their risk of becoming victims of such an attack.

Battle for SSL Dominance Heats Up

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:35:00 GMT

The December 2010 Alexa-Netcraft SSL Index was released recently and it seems the battle for dominance in the SSL (secure socket layers) market is heating up and getting pretty nasty.

According to the report (compiled monthly by CatapultWorks) which provides an indication of SSL certification usage across the most trafficked websites by cross-referencing the Netcraft SSL Survey with the Alexa Top Sites list), GeoTrust maintained its leadership position and trumped low-cost competitors such as Go Daddy for the seventh straight month, securing 35,540 unique domains among the Internet's 1 million most visited websites. Go Daddy registered 27,578 unique domains for the same period.

"GeoTrust is consistently leading the low-cost, high-volume segment of the SSL market over competitors such as Go Daddy," said Jeff Barto, senior product marketing manager for GeoTrust. "We expect to continue our lead into 2011 on the strength of our global service reach, convenience, attractive prices and product reputation."

GeoTrust is not pulling any punches with Go Daddy either – calling out Go Daddy customers interested in switching from “the third place provider to market leading GeoTrust® SSL” with a rather nasty “Who’s Your Daddy Now” campaign.

GoDaddy versus Verisign [SSL Certificates]

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

With the online holiday shopping season fast approaching, SSL certificates (which provide server to browser encryption, the padlock icon and the familiar https prefix to secure a website) are the focus of many merchants. So where are merchants turning for their SSL certificate needs these days? By the looks of it, they are going to GoDaddy.

In its Netcraft LTD Secure Server Survey for November 2009, the analyst firm announced that GoDaddy's overall SSL market share has grown four times faster than VeriSign's during the past year. NetCraft projected that GoDaddy would pass long-time market leader VeriSign in less than 18 months. GoDaddy apparently does not want to wait that long and is now offering its EV SSL Certificate for $99. Obtaining a relatively identical security level at VeriSign would cost more than $1400.

“The reason for our growth is simple - our customers are smart enough to know they can get a world-class SSL Cert without having to pay through the roof,” said GoDaddy CEO and Founder Bob Parsons. “You could purchase 14 GoDaddy Certificates for the same price as a single VeriSign Cert, not to mention the great support our customers enjoy.”

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