Let's not Encrypt
The article critiques Let's Encrypt for creating a false sense of security, highlighting issues with certificate verification, automatic renewals, short validity, and concerns about its funding and long-term viability.
Read original articleThe article critiques Let's Encrypt, an organization that provides free SSL certificates, arguing that it creates a false sense of security for website owners. The author highlights several issues, including the ease of certificate verification, which can be exploited by attackers, and the automatic renewal process that poses security risks. The author also points out that Let's Encrypt certificates are only valid for three months, leading to a burdensome renewal process that can disrupt website operations. Furthermore, the article suggests that the reliance on Let's Encrypt undermines the development of more robust security solutions and that the organization is funded by competitors, raising concerns about its long-term viability. The author concludes that the current system is flawed and that users are better off seeking alternative methods for securing their websites, as the existing model is unsustainable and potentially harmful.
- Let's Encrypt certificates may not provide the intended security against man-in-the-middle attacks.
- The automatic renewal process for Let's Encrypt certificates poses significant security risks.
- The short validity period of certificates leads to a cumbersome renewal process for website owners.
- The reliance on Let's Encrypt may hinder the development of better security solutions in the industry.
- The funding model of Let's Encrypt raises concerns about its independence and long-term sustainability.
Related
Letsencrypt Supports Wildcard Certificates
Let's Encrypt offers free SSL/TLS certificates for secure HTTPS connections, relying on donations. They issue Domain Validation and SAN certificates, recommend reporting malicious activities, and emphasize TLS/SSL security.
All I Know About Certificates – Certificate Authority
The article highlights the critical role of certificates in the TLS handshake for website identity verification, emphasizing trusted Certificate Authorities' responsibilities and the impact of free certificates from Let’s Encrypt.
All I Know About Certificates – Certificate Authority
The article highlights the significance of TLS certificates in verifying website identities, preventing impersonation, and maintaining trust through trusted Certificate Authorities, while outlining the verification process and the role of intermediate certificates.
TLS certificates were almost never particularly well verified
The article highlights weaknesses in TLS certificate verification, particularly reliance on manipulable WHOIS data, and suggests that while thorough verification is costly, there may be future improvements in the process.
Let's Encrypt is 10 years old now
Let’s Encrypt is a free certificate authority that simplifies obtaining SSL/TLS certificates through an automated process, supported by major organizations to enhance internet security and privacy for all users.
> Not this time. The technical problems are easy to solve. For decades, users of SSH have had a system (save the certificate permanently the first time you connect, and warn if it ever changes) that is optimal in a sense
It's a fundamental problem, not easy to solve. And the Letsencrypt strategy already does things the SSH way: trust blindly on the first time (thus being vulnerable to MITM), and if you were not MITM'd the first time, then you're pretty safe during future connections.
Certbot just automates the "trust blindly" part because configuring a web server cert is a little more complicated than an invocation of ssh.
In fact, if we really did things the SSH way, it would be each user blindly trusting each website for the first visit.
You can still get paid certs, but the max validity period is shrinking, to 45 days in 2027 https://blog.nameshield.com/blog/2024/10/17/ssl-tls-certific...
Related
Letsencrypt Supports Wildcard Certificates
Let's Encrypt offers free SSL/TLS certificates for secure HTTPS connections, relying on donations. They issue Domain Validation and SAN certificates, recommend reporting malicious activities, and emphasize TLS/SSL security.
All I Know About Certificates – Certificate Authority
The article highlights the critical role of certificates in the TLS handshake for website identity verification, emphasizing trusted Certificate Authorities' responsibilities and the impact of free certificates from Let’s Encrypt.
All I Know About Certificates – Certificate Authority
The article highlights the significance of TLS certificates in verifying website identities, preventing impersonation, and maintaining trust through trusted Certificate Authorities, while outlining the verification process and the role of intermediate certificates.
TLS certificates were almost never particularly well verified
The article highlights weaknesses in TLS certificate verification, particularly reliance on manipulable WHOIS data, and suggests that while thorough verification is costly, there may be future improvements in the process.
Let's Encrypt is 10 years old now
Let’s Encrypt is a free certificate authority that simplifies obtaining SSL/TLS certificates through an automated process, supported by major organizations to enhance internet security and privacy for all users.