SoCS Site Security Certificate

SSL

The Support team advise users to employ Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) when connecting to the School through an external ISP.

SSL encrypts transmissions between the client and server machines, so that sensitive data (such as passwords, credit cards details etc.) is not passed across a network in plain text.

Site Security Certificate

To improve the usability of SSL connections to our network, we have introduced a site security certificate. Servers on the SoCS network have been digitally signed with this certificate to confirm that they are legitimate and can be trusted by SoCS users. By downloading and installing the certificate on your home computer (as detailed below) you are confirming that you trust the identity of any servers signed by this certificate. The instructions on this page can be used as a guide for installing the certificate with other applications.

  • Using Internet Explorer
    1. Click on the link to the certificate. (There is also a Macintosh IE version of the certificate)
    2. A download dialogue box appears. Click Open

      3. Warning Dialogue Box

    3. A dialogue box giving details of the certificate appears. Click Install
    4. The Certificate Install Wizard dialogue appears. Click Next
    5. Select Automatically select the certificate store based on the type of certificate
    6. Click Next.
    7. Click Finish.
    8. Click Yes when the Root Certificate Store dialogue appears

      Root Certificate Store

  • Using Mozilla
    1. Right-click on the link to certificate and select Save Link Target As
    2. Save the file in an appropriate place (e.g. your home directory)
    3. From Mozilla's menu bar, click Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> Certificates -> Manage Certificates
    4. In Certificate Manager click Authorities then click Import
    5. Select the certificate file that you downloaded in Step 2 and click Open
    6. Click View to see the certificate's details if you wish, then close the Certificate Viewer when you are done

      7. Certificate details

    7. Select Trust this CA to identify web sites and Trust this CA to identify email users

      8. Certificate confirmation

    8. Click OK.
  • Using Windows Mobile 2005
    1. Click on the link to the certificate.
    2. You will be asked if you want to save the certificate - you should select somewhere on your device or memory card to save the certificate.
    3. Once the certifcate has downloaded, open the certificate. You will be prompted if you wish to install the certificate, select yes to install the certificate
    4. The Certificate should now be shown in Settings -> System -> Certificates -> Root, it will be listed as SoCS Root CA