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IAY.Org.UK IAY.Org.UKThawte, one of the major commercial suppliers of digital certificates, operates a free personal e-mail certificate service. The basic certificate issued under this scheme includes only an e-mail address; while useful, this doesn't tell you the name of the person associated with the address. To provide that real-world assurance, the thawte Web of Trust exists to allow trusted individuals called notaries to collectively verify an applicant's name: this is done through examination of identity documentation at an in-person meeting. Once an applicant has collected sufficient assurances in this way, they can include their personal name in their e-mail certificates.
![[thawte Web of Trust Notary seal]](seal_wot.gif)
As a (rather junior) notary for the thawte Web of Trust, I can make an identity assurance of up to 10 points towards the 50 points required for an assured personal e-mail certificate. I don't currently charge for this service.
If you're in the EH9 area of Edinburgh and interested in an identity assurance, please contact me by e-mail in the first instance.
