Thanks to the author for taking the time to write this up.<p>We recently had to buy a digital certificate ($99), and it felt very much like a digital mugging. In a year it reverts to $499. You can get a nearly identical SSL certificate for less than $10.<p>The situation is an example of everything that can go wrong when ethics evaporates from business. Not to mention, the approval process is hostile to startups (corporate letterhead? fax machine?).<p>"Opening an unapproved browser on Windows Vista now results in multiple warning dialogs and a bright red security notice---unless the unsupported browser pays us millions to audit their program."
I was going to print a TShirt which said "I gave VeriSign $199 and all I got was this lousy certificate: [cipherblock]". It looks like I'll have to increase the price.