Thanks to the author for taking the time to write this up.

We recently had to buy a digital certificate ($99), and it felt very much like a digital mugging. In a year it reverts to $499. You can get a nearly identical SSL certificate for less than $10.

The situation is an example of everything that can go wrong when ethics evaporates from business. Not to mention, the approval process is hostile to startups (corporate letterhead? fax machine?).

"Opening an unapproved browser on Windows Vista now results in multiple warning dialogs and a bright red security notice---unless the unsupported browser pays us millions to audit their program."