Let’s Encrypt Revokes Over 3 Million Digital Security Certs – How to Check if a Website is Safe to Use and the Certificate is Valid
A security bug was discovered on February 29, 2020 in millions of Let’s Encrypt website security certificates. As a result, over three million TLS encryption certificates issued by Let’s Encrypt were revoked – rendering them invalid. The company found a bug in its Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) code. All certificate authorities — like Let’s Encrypt – are required by law to comply with the CAA or incur steep penalties from web browser producers. It is believed that the bug was existed since 25 July 2019.
https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/2020-02-29-caa-rechecking-bug/114591
Although the majority of website encryption certificates do not pose a security concern for consumers, the law requires that the certificates be revoked and replaced because they are not in full compliance with specific standards.
Let’s Encrypt sent emails to all website owners affected by the bug. Those websites will have to install a new, valid certificate to reestablish encryption on their websites. If your Let’s Encrypt certificate was is managed by your hosting provider, like this website is managed by our hosting provider Siteground, then it is possible that they have already handled this issue for you. To check your website’s certificate, go to https://checkhost.unboundtest.com/ and enter the URL.
What is Let’s Encrypt?
Let’s Encrypt is a non-profit certificate authority run by Internet Security Research Group (ISRG) . The organization provides free website security certificates for Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption. Let’s Encrypt, along with SEO policies from Google, helped move the internet to a more secure environment with their free service.
Internet users should always be mindful of what websites they shop on and who they give payment card numbers and personal information to. Shoppers can also use a free Let’s Encrypt online too to check to see if a website is considered safe and secure to use.
Go to this URL to check any website certificate https://checkhost.unboundtest.com/
Read our Tips for Safe Smartphone Shopping to help protect your money and data.
What Does Website Encryption Matter?
Whenever you enter sensitive information including usernames, passwords, and payment card information on a website or app, your data is transmitted over the internet connection being used by your device. If that data is not encrypted from the instant it leaves your phone or computer, then it can be intercepted and read by anyone else who is using that same internet connection. For example, the WiFi connection at coffee shops is public and not secure to use.
Websites also have to be secured with encrypted digital certificates website security certificates for Transport Layer Security, TLS, encryption. Often this is referred to as SSL which is an earlier encryption technology or HTTPS. Using TLS encryption ensures that all of the information entered in a webpage is secured and cannot be intercepted by hackers. Even if a website only requires a username and password and does not accept payment information it is still important that the information be secured with encryption.
People commonly use the same passwords across multiple accounts. If a hacker can steal low level usernames and passwords to social media accounts, they can often use that to hack into more important accounts like bank accounts and credit cards.
Max is a Data Privacy Coordinator at a major global law firm and a science fiction author residing in the Philadelphia area. He has been writing for https://www.askcybersecurity.com since early 2017.