IE11 and Edge will drop lock icon this summer, block access to sites by Feb. 14, 2017 Credit: Thinkstock Microsoft last week outlined the timetable it will use to drop browser support for sites that secure traffic with SHA-1 certificates, part of an Internet-wide plan to rid the Internet of the weaker encryption.With the delivery of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update — slated to ship sometime this summer — both Internet Explorer (IE) and Edge will stop displaying a lock icon for sites that reply on a SHA-1 certificate. That icon signals that the bits back and forth between browser and website are encrypted, and so not vulnerable to spying.But Microsoft and other browser makers — including Google and Mozilla — have declared that SHA-1 certificates are unsafe because their encryption was insufficiently strong. Originally, the browser builders had agreed to stop trusting SHA-1-signed certificates on Jan. 1, 2017, but new research last year prompted them to consider a July 1, 2016 deadline.Security researchers have demonstrated that cybercriminals can craft fake SHA-1-based certificates, which they could then use to dupe users into believing that a counterfeit website was the real deal. Microsoft’s IE and Edge won’t actually block sites signed with a SHA-1 certificate until Feb. 14, 2017, that month’s Patch Tuesday. Between this summer’s removal of the lock icon and next year, users will be able to browse to such websites even though they will be marked as insecure.The first-stage changes to Edge and IE11 in Windows 10 will appear with the Anniversary Update for that OS, and simultaneously in separate updates to IE11 for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Microsoft said nothing about whether it would also update IE9, the sole company browser supported on Windows Vista. The omission may be due to Vista’s impending April 2017 retirement. Google and Mozilla have also pledged to drop support for SHA-1 by Jan. 1, 2017, but both have said that they may accelerate that to July 1, 2016.Microsoft will update its Windows 10 Insider preview “soon,” the company said in a Friday blog post, with the change to the lock icon.The Redmond, Wash., company has published technical information here about its plans to end support for SHA-1-signed certificates. Related content news analysis DHS unveils one common platform for reporting cyber incidents Ahead of CISA cyber incident reporting regulations, DHS issued a report on harmonizing 52 cyber incident reporting requirements, presenting a model common reporting platform that could encompass them all. By Cynthia Brumfield Sep 25, 2023 10 mins Regulation Regulation Regulation news Chinese state actors behind espionage attacks on Southeast Asian government The distinct groups of activities formed three different clusters, each attributed to a specific APT group. By Shweta Sharma Sep 25, 2023 4 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks feature How to pick the best endpoint detection and response solution EDR software has emerged as one of the preeminent tools in the CISO’s arsenal. Here’s what to look for and what to avoid when choosing EDR software. By Linda Rosencrance Sep 25, 2023 10 mins Intrusion Detection Software Security Monitoring Software Data and Information Security feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Data and Information Security IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe