Sertifikaadiautoriteedile

Sertifikaadiautoriteedile, often abbreviated as CA, is a trusted entity that issues digital certificates. These certificates are essential for verifying the identity of individuals, organizations, and devices in online communications. A CA acts as a third party, vouching for the authenticity of a public key and its associated entity.

When a CA issues a digital certificate, it binds a public key to an identity through a rigorous verification process. This process ensures that the entity requesting the certificate is indeed who they claim to be. The CA then digitally signs the certificate with its own private key. This signature allows anyone to verify that the certificate was issued by a legitimate CA and that it has not been tampered with.

The primary function of a CA is to establish trust in digital interactions. This is crucial for various online activities, including secure web browsing (HTTPS), email encryption (S/MIME), and digital signatures. By trusting a CA, users can be confident that they are communicating with the intended party and that their data is protected from interception and modification.

There are many CAs operating globally, ranging from large commercial organizations to government-backed entities. Browsers and operating systems come pre-loaded with a list of trusted CAs, forming a root of trust for digital certificate verification. If a certificate is not signed by a CA in this trusted list, users will typically receive a warning.