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Why Google Is Pushing For a Web Free of SHA-1

An anonymous reader writes: Google recently announced Chrome will be gradually phasing out support for certificates using SHA-1 encryption. They said, "We need to ensure that by the time an attack against SHA-1 is demonstrated publicly, the web has already moved away from it." Developer Eric Mill has written up a post explaining why SHA-1 is dangerously weak, and why moving browsers away from acceptance of SHA-1 is a lengthy, but important process. Both Microsoft and Mozilla have deprecation plans in place, but Google's taking the additional step of showing the user that it's not secure. "This is a gutsy move by Google, and represents substantial risk. One major reason why it's been so hard for browsers to move away from signature algorithms is that when browsers tell a user an important site is broken, the user believes the browser is broken and switches browsers. Google seems to be betting that Chrome is trusted enough for its security and liked enough by its users that they can withstand the first mover disadvantage. Opera has also backed Google's plan. The Safari team is watching developments and hasn't announced anything."

4 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. SHA-1 by turkeydance · · Score: 5, Funny

    has hit the fan

  2. I don't care. by JustNiz · · Score: 3, Funny

    My website will be fine since it uses ROT-13.

    1. Re:I don't care. by zephvark · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's why I always use ROT-13 twice. It completely eliminates the risk of that form of decryption.

  3. Re:First movers nothing. by obarel · · Score: 3, Funny

    There's no point in acting all surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display at your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaints and its far too late to start making a fuss about it now.