Since our concern is the browser side, not the server side, the question is: What are personal digital certificates, also known as Digital IDs?
• They are the electronic counterparts to driver licenses, passports, and membership cards. A digital certificate can be presented electronically to prove your identity or your right to access information or services online. • It can bind a person or organization’s identity to a pair of electronic keys that reside on the clients browser. • They enable individuals and organizations to secure business and personal transactions across communication networks. With a Qwest digital certificate for your Netscape or Microsoft browser, you can identify yourself to ecom.qwest.com Web sites and be authorized to access protected information. Furthermore, the web site knows your identity and can customize various aspects of the web site based on who the client is.
