What’s in your wallet? Chances are you have at least two or three items which identify you in some way: a driver’s license, registration, ATM cards, credit cards, Medicare card.
We’re used to carrying around ID, it’s no big deal. But how do you identify yourself on the Net?
What is a Digital ID?
A digital certificate, or digital ID, is used to prove who you are on the Internet.
Digital IDs can be issued to Web sites, software developers and individuals. You can be pretty sure that anyone who produces a valid digital ID is who they claim to be. Of course, while a digital ID verifies someone’s identity, it says nothing about their character – something you need to establish for yourself.
Nevertheless, the requirements for getting a digital ID as an organisation engaged in electronic commerce are stringent enough that they give some assurance of the certificate holder being an established business. For software publishers, a combination of a digital ID and an Authenticode certificate not only verifies identity but also states the equivalent of “this code has not been tampered with and should not wreak havoc on your computer”.
The basic personal digital ID (class 1) requires nothing more than having a verifiable e-mail address. If people you deal with on the Net are finicky about who they’re dealing with, you can get a higher class of Digital ID, requiring a vetting process that confirms your name, address and other information right up to IDs which can only be obtained by appearing in person or presenting registered credentials.
What, exactly, is a digital certificate?
Technically, it’s an electronic document which conforms to the International Telecommunications Union’s (the international body that determines communications standards) X.509 specification.
In everyday terms, it’s a document which typically contains the owner’s name and public key, the expiration date of the public key, the serial number of the certificate, and the name and digital signature of the organisation which issued the certificate. The digital certificate binds together the owner’s name and a pair of electronic keys (a public key and a private key) that can be used to encrypt and sign documents. Digital certificates are also used to confirm your identity to websites that you visit.
Do I need a Digital ID?
Currently, there’s no pressing need for you, as an individual, to have a digital ID. But that’s due to change.
Recently, a group of the major financial players in the world of online commerce, including Visa (www.visa.com) and Mastercard (www.mastercard.com), have published a new protocol for SET – Secure Electronic Transactions. SET is designed to make online credit card transactions as secure as offline transactions and, once it’s in place, many online merchants will insist you produce your digital ID before they’ll do business with you. In fact, you’ll need a separate digital ID for each credit card you use online.
It’s not likely to stop there, either. Once online shopping makes digital IDs more commonplace, we’ll probably see more Web sites using such certificates simply to check your ID. For instance, a single personal digital ID can be used instead of multiple user name/password combinations required to access different Web sites.
You’ll also find more and more software developers, online shops and other sites providing their own digital IDs as surfers and consumers demand greater security on the Net.
While there’s no need to rush out and get yourself a digital ID today, six months down the road you’re likely to have a couple stored on your hard disk.
How Do I get a Digital ID?
You can get a digital ID from any of the Certificate Authorities which provide personal digital certificates. Each CA has different prices and different requirements for being issued a Digital ID. Currently the most common type of Digital ID is a class 1 identification. These range in price from free to $79.99. A class 1 Digital ID requires only that you have a verifiable email address and can be obtained online in a mater of minutes. A class 1 ID provides absolutely no confirmation of who a person is and is based not on a person but a email address. As such class 1 ID’s are not accepted for verification of identity in most cases.
A Class 2 Digital ID requires a visit to an actual person or persons to confirm your identity before you can be issued a class 2 ID. This is known as Identification Vetting or Verification.
One of the leading providers of digital identification certifications is StartSSL StartSSL providers Class 1 & Class 2 personal certificates free of charge. Although the certificate itself is free of charge the vetting process for a class 2 ID does have associated charges with it. A comparison chart of StartSSL ID’s is shown below:
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The verification process for any class 2 certificate is conducted by StartSSL Notaries. Notaries are designated individuals who have had extensive verifications of there identities conducted and have been trained in the process required for verify individuals identities.
Digital Identification Vetting Process
The vetting of digital id’s can only be performed in person and is performed by appointment only. When you come for your appointment you will need to bring two forms of Government Issued Identifications from the list below (no other forms of identification will be accepted), you will also need to bring a utility bill mailed to you at the same address listed on your ID with in the last 3o days.
- United States Passport
- Florida Drivers License
- Vermont Drivers License
- Military ID With Embedded Smart Chip
- TSA – Transit Worker Identification Card
- Government Employee ID With Embedded Smart Chip
- USCG – Merchant Mariners Identification
Following your appointment and verification of your documents your digital identification verification will be processed with in 72 hours.
What if I do not have the required documents?
With out the required documents I am not able to process verification of your digital id. There are no exceptions.
How do I make my Appointment?
- Visit http://www.startssl.com and confirm your your Class 1 digital identification has been processed, and your temp certificate is installed in your email application.
- Submit your payment for vetting of $25.00 USD through paypal by clicking here or using the “Pay Now” button at the bottom of this list. You must make payment using the same email address as the one your digital ID is registered to.
- Visit the Start SSL Notary Finder, and enter Key Largo as your location. Select Avery Chipka from the Notary List and click “Request Validation”.
- Visit the Start SSL Notary Finder, and enter Key Largo as your location. Select Casey Chipka from the Notary List and click “Request Validation”.
- With in 24 – 48 hours you will receive an email at your registered email address requesting confirmation of your vetting request.
- Once the above sets are completed we will setup an appointment for your identification vetting. Verification by both notaries will be conducted during a single appointment.