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Re: https (was: Re: Exploit for DNS Cache Poisoning - RELEASED)


From: William Pitcock <nenolod () systeminplace net>
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:06:07 -0500

On Thu, 2008-07-24 at 09:51 +0200, Robert Kisteleki wrote:
Patrick W. Gilmore wrote:
Anyone have a foolproof way to get grandma to always put "https://"; in 
front of "www"?

I understand this is a huge can of worms, but maybe it's time to change the 
default behavior of browsers from http to https...?

I'm sure it's doable in FF with a simple plugin, one doesn't have to wait 
for FF4. (That would work for bookmarks too.)


I don't think anything involving HTTPS is necessairly an answer to this
problem. Specifically:

* not all sites do HTTPS
* many organizations use transparent proxies like Microsoft ICA
* certification authorities can in theory be bought off (or otherwise
manipulated) to issue bogus certs, making switching to HTTPS worthless

William




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