On the Internet, a security certificate is used to verify the identity of people and computers, and to establish secure communications between two computers. Security certificates are also known as public key certificates, PKI certificates, SSL certificates, or identity certificates.
Security certificates are issued by Certificate Authorities, and TIP uses security certificates from CACert.org, a non-profit Certificate Authority registered in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It is recommended that you read CACerts writings on importing certificates. Also other browsers are discussed here
Some web browsers, notably Microsoft Internet Explorer, do not recognise TIP's security certificates because the CACert root certificate isn't included in the browser by default. For example, if you connect to one of TIP's secure sites, you'll see a warning message similar to the following when using Internet Explorer:
Contrary to Microsoft's advice, it is safe to connect to TIP, and you can safely click on the "Click here to continue (not recommended)" link.
However, we recommend that you fix this problem permanently by installing the CACert root certificate in your browser, using the following steps:
1. Visit CACERT and download the Class 1 PK1 Key ' Root certificate (PEM Format)'. (Fig 1)
2. Save the file anywhere convenient - the desktop will do (Fig 2)
3. Double click the desktop icon and open the file (Fig 3)
4. Click 'Install Certificate' button (Fig 4)
5. The 'Certificate Import Wizard' starts - click 'Next'. (Fig 5)
6. Select 'Place all certificates in the following store' (Fig 6)
7. Click the 'Browse' Button, select 'Trusted root certification authorities' and click O.K. (Fig 7)
8. Back in the import Wizard click 'Next'. (Fig 8)
9. Click the 'Finish' Button. (Fig 9)
10. With luck the import will be successful. (Fig 10)
11. In IE 8 you can check by going to Tools>Internet Options>Content>Certificates>'Trusted Root Certification Authorities' Tab and see if 'CA Cert' is there. (Fig 11)."
The desktop icon can now be deleted.
Note Bene This was for IE8 - IE7 is much the same. Firefox does not have the Wizard and installation is virtually automatic from step 3. The screen shots are from Windows-7, things may vary a bit with XP but my memory tells me the windows look much the same. IE6 and below will have to download by following the link "Click here if you want to import the root certificate into Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x/6.x" on the CAcert site.