# What does this mean on my computer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-mean-on-my-computer/47722>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 29, 2000, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-mean-on-my-computer/47722 "2000-12-29T21:24:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-mean-on-my-computer/47722/1 "2000-12-29T21:24:08Z")

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The last few times I’ve tried to order something online I’ve gotten a message that says “The identity certificate uses an unknown signature algorithm”, and it won’t let me order. What does this mean? Am I doomed to return to catalog-only shopping???

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-mean-on-my-computer/47722/2 "2000-12-29T21:39:00Z")

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Here’s what I think is happening: The website and your computer both want to open a secure connection to transfer your financial information (credit card number). The way you make a connection secure these days is by encrypting the information sent and received. But the website is trying to use a method of encryption unknown to your browser. How old is your browser? I can’t see a website that wants business using an encryption method unknown to most browsers, so yours must be 1) Very old or 2) Nonstandard (neither Internet Explorer nor Netscape Navigator). I would upgrade my browser (downloading a new one is usually free) and see if the problems persist.

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**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-mean-on-my-computer/47722/3 "2000-12-29T21:51:33Z")

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I agree with **Derleth**. Download the newest browser of your choice, and try it. I had the same problem, fixed in exactly this way.

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**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-mean-on-my-computer/47722/4 "2000-12-29T22:06:02Z")

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I had this problem on my iMac, when browsing with Internet Explorer 4.5. I could get through with Netscape 4.5, though. When I upgraded to IE 4.5. **1** , the problem vanished.

Update your browser, like everyone says!