This document presents the findings and methodology of a bachelor’s thesis project that aimed to understand the challenges and strategies associated with certificate manage- ment practices and revocation processes among domains and certificate authorities (CAs). Initially, the goal was to gain insights into the intricacies of certificate management through a comprehensive survey. To achieve this, a survey comprising relevant questions was designed and distributed to both CAs and domains. The survey focused on four main areas: issuance, certificate management and revocation, and other. The top 30 CAs were identified using Tranco’s list, and 20 domains associated with each CA were selected to receive the survey, which was then sent out by email. After reviewing the responses, it became evident that the project encountered chal- lenges in attracting sufficient participation from both CAs and domains. Despite our efforts to engage participants, the low response rate was anticipated and provides insight into the level of engagement and transparency within the industry. Consequently, the report also investigates the reasons behind the low response rate and the various types of non-answers received from domains. The report explores various factors contributing to the low response frequency and ex- amines the implications of this limitation on the study’s original objectives. The responses received from CAs still provide valuable insights into certificate management practices and highlight the need for improved communication strategies for future surveys. In conclusion, while the primary aim of the project was to understand certificate man- agement challenges and strategies, the report evolved to include a discussion on the im- plications of the low response rate and the potential for redesigning surveys to enhance participation. Additionally, the findings suggest avenues for future research, such as ex- ploring certificate transparency, certificate authority accountability, and the influence of emerging technologies on certificate management.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:liu-205467 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Nilsén, Hanna, Bergström, Matilda |
| Publisher | Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för datavetenskap |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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