[kw-pm] CAcert talk, May 19th

[Christopher Calzonetti]

ABOUT CACERT
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tl;dr version:  Free ssl server certificates!

CAcert is an alternative to the commercial certificate authorities,
allowing users to create free SSL certificates signed by a trusted CA.

>From the CAcert Assurance Handbook:

* CAcert separates assurance (confirmation of identity) from the issuing
  of the certificates. Thereby the identity only has to be confirmed once
  to make as many certificates as needed and whenever wanted.
* CAcert is a "non-profit" community of volunteers. It is independent
  from commercial CA's.
* Some CAs issue free certs, and some use a WoT, but they tend to only
  issue low-level client certificates, but no server certificates or  
  strongly verified certs. These free certs are intended to drive you to
  their CA so they can sell you higher value products. There is nothing 
  wrong with that (your supermarket does the same thing) but it might not
  be appropriate to your needs.
  
(http://wiki.cacert.org/AssuranceHandbook2#Some_more_information_on_CAcert)

It's important to get a good network of trust built up.  The more people
you have who have assured your identity the better. 

The Kitchener Waterloo Perlmongers is hoping to have an Assurance event
at our May kw.pm meeting, Thursday the 19th of May.  Come out, learn
about CAcert, and we'll have some assurers present to get you started.

KW.PM NEEDS ASSURERS
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There aren't a lot of assurers in the area.  If you're feeling
ambitious, kw.pm would very much appreciate if you could contact
assurers in your area and start earning assurance points ahead of time.
If you can get up to 100 assurance points, then please come to our
meeting and help assure others.