FWIW
(COMTEX) B: Older browsers report errors in online transactions
B: Older browsers report errors in online transactions
Older Internet browsers are causing some error messages during secured
e-commerce transactions and online banking, but the first day of Y2K
business produced few user-reported problems at help desks locally and
nationally.
Users of Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers 4.06 and older,
as well as Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer 4.5 for Macintosh and
older, could have problems unless they update to newer versions, the
companies reported.
The issue is not Y2K-related, but involves digital certificates from
VeriSign Inc. stored in those browser versions. Certificates are used
to authenticate users and encrypt transactions. In older browsers, the
certificates are set to expire on the last day of 1999 by design. The
idea was to force users to upgrade to the latest versions with updated
security technologies, although VeriSign officials have said that in
retrospect, they should have picked a different date for the
expiration.
According to the VeriSign Web site: ''Certificates are only issued for
a finite period by design, because as computer technology improves,
older generations of encryption technology become vulnerable due to
newer, more powerful computers.''
Error messages will only appear when a secure connection is attempted
during a banking or e-commerce transaction. About 150,000 commerce and
finance sites use VeriSign certificates.
About 100,000 Internet customers of Swedish banks could not access
their accounts Monday because of problems with their browsers. The
problems were solved by downloading updates.
Elsewhere, help desks at several local and national Internet service
providers said the first day back at the office was apparently free of
major problems. Officials at Internet America, America Online, Flashnet
and Texas Metronet said calls were routine in frequency and character.
In fact, none of those companies reported customer complaints about the
documented VeriSign problem.
In a related matter, Steve Linebarger of Texas Metronet said he noticed
the mail program, Elm, which is rarely employed by most users today,
has been stamping dates in the year 100.
''I consider that basically an annoying little detail of an almost
cosmetic nature,'' Linebarger said. Some Unix utilities rarely used by
even hard-core programmers are also experiencing some operational
difficulties, he said.
Flashnet operator Brian Scott said he personally experienced the
Netscape 4.06 glitch, but ''clicked right through it with no problem.''
Affected browsers will issue a warning, then ask if the user wants to
continue or cancel the transaction. Experts advise users to click
through and continue with the transaction. The information is still
secure, they say. Only the guarantee on the encryption technology has
technically expired.
Nationally, the browser problem is of unknown proportions. About
one-fifth of Netscape users _ 5 million to 10 million of them _ still
use pre-4.06 browsers, the company said. There are no estimates of the
number of Mac owners using Internet Explorer 4.5.
Users of Netscape 4.06 may see this warning: ''One of the Certificate
Authorities that identifies this site has expired. This may be because
a certificate authority has actually expired, or because the date on
your computer is wrong.''
Users will be able to click ''continue'' to get a secure connection,
and the transaction will be secure, the company says.
With the Microsoft Mac browsers, the following warning will appear:
''Unable to establish a secure connection to 1/8Web site3/8. There is a
problem with the security certificate from that site. 1/8The identity
certificate has expired.3/8 The information you view and send will be
readable to others while in transit, and it may not go to the intended
party. Continue loading this page?''
The user can continue, but the connection will not exhibit the visual
cue that indicates a secure connection, according to Microsoft.
Both problems can be remedied by updating the browsers with free
software.
Internet Explorer users can upgrade their browsers to IE 4.51 at
microsoft.com/mac/download. More information is available at
microsoft.com/mac/iesecissue.
Netscape is urging users to update to its newest versions and offers
more help at netscape.com/cms/certinfo.html?cp=hom12n1.
(c) 2000, The Dallas Morning News.
Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at
dallasnews.com
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
AP-NY-01-03-00 2100EST< -0-
By Doug Bedell
The Dallas Morning News
*** end of story ***
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