As encouragement to the growth of secure email, Thawte is offering free digital certificates to individuals. These are detailed instructions on signing up and using secure email. If you dropped in from an outside link or search engine, please start at Secure Email.

The Web of Trust

"Verified Thawte Member" is just not an exciting name to have in your digital certificate. If you are just playing secret squirrel with a friend, you can skip to Retrieving Your Certificate and be done, but anyone who wants to do this right and be able to use digital signatures for confirmation please continue.

As you may already know, an important part of a digital certificate is knowing that the person who is using it is really who they say they are. If you have a friend and know without question what their email address is really going to them, then it is perfectly ok to send them secure email knowing that they are really who they say they are. However, if you don't know this person well and want to know that the email address and digital certificate given really go to the person being claimed, you need someone you trust to verify this for you. Thus, Thawte created the Web of Trust.

The Thawte Web of Trust is composed of volunteer notaries that have had their identities verified to a greater than normal degree. These people are then empowered to verify other people's identity as Worldwide Thawte Representatives. Thawte Notaries are permitted to charge a fee for their identity verification, but most do not. Usually any fees are noted in the Notary Directory.

One major advantage Thawte has over any other type of certificate service is that, because the identity of the person is verified, Thawte will allow you as many certificates as you have email addresses. Other services charge by the address. You will never need to be verified again.

To have your identity verified to the point that your name is in your certificate, you will need to have a total of 50 or more points awarded to you. Each Thawte Notary has a specific maximum number of points that they are permitted to assign based upon their experience and activity within the system. The points allowed varies from 10 to 35 points. No matter what, it will always take at least two notaries to reach the required 50 points. You could visit five 10 point notaries or two 25 point notaries or even a 35 and a 15. It is perfectly acceptable to go over 50 points. However, if you are assigned a total of 100 points or more, you will be indicating to Thawte that you wish to become a notary yourself.

To locate a Thawte Notary in your area, you will need to login to Thawte and browse the Notary Directory: https://www.thawte.com/cgi/personal/wot/directory.exe

Here is what you can expect once you arrive at the Thawte Notary's location: You will need to present two forms of identification. One of the two must be the same ID you used when you signed up at Thawte. The first must be some form of nationally recognized picture identification, such as a Drivers License, Military ID, Passport, etc. and the other one just needs to be some sort of ID card. Even a Sams Club card or Insurance ID will work for the second one. If you get any flack about the second ID, have the notary read the official ID rules carefully; only one ID must be government recognized. I recommend that you DO NOT use a Social Security Card or Credit Card; the notary will need to have a photocopy of your IDs and I know that I don't like having SSN or Credit Card numbers on file. They are acceptable, but I prefer other choices. (Many people do use a Social Security Card because that is what they sign up with initially.)

The notary will look at you, look at your IDs, look at you, look at your IDs, squint, scowl, have you sign the "Statement Of Confirmation Of Identity" that they have Thawtefully printed out ahead of time, and *poof* you are officially the person you always knew yourself to be!

It makes life much simpler for the notary if you have a photocopy with you of your two forms of ID. Both IDs on the same paper, front of IDs only is generally acceptable. The notary must still see the originals. He or She will need to file the photocopy with your Identity Confirmation Statement and copies in advance will prevent the dreaded copy run. (Thawte has us keep a copy in case you turn out to be an Evil Overlord in disguise. This allows us to prove to Thawte that at least you were really good at it.)

I'll quickly mention the Notary System. Occasionally, we see someone that becomes interested in expanding the Web of Trust system and would like to be able to verify identities. The requirements are simple and free. Anytime you verify someone's identity, you keep a photocopy of their ID and the "permission slip" that they signed that permits you to verify their identity. This paperwork must be retained for five years and surrendered upon demand should Thawte question someone's identity. If someone proves to have falsely used an identity and legal damages result, Thawte will fully accept all responsibility, but only if you have retained your paperwork. It makes for a good excuse to meet interesting people. Although we don't charge for the service, some Notaries charge a fee. It's also good for the occasional free lunch. :)

If you wish to become a Notary, you must have your identity verified to 100 Points, rather than the 50 points normally required. This just means visiting enough notaries to get the points. All new notaries start out with the ability to apply 10 points.

Once your identity has been verified or you have chosen not to verify, continue with Retrieving Your Certificate.