Who killed the EV cert? A browser whodunit for Halloween
Summary
The article traces the decline of Extended Validation (EV) certificates and the erosion of browser-based trust indicators, citing browser changes and a notable name collision between Stripe entities. It discusses Let’s Encrypt’s rise with free DV certificates and the subsequent shift toward EU-style Qualified Website Authentication Certificates (QWACs), including the 2-QWAC concept, which could reintroduce verified identity alongside standard TLS. The piece also explores how AI agents could leverage identity data to assess website legitimacy in an increasingly automated browsing environment.