Internet connectivity on several older tech devices could be disrupted on Thursday as a vital digital certificate needed to access websites expires soon.
CPE Security Certificate Expiration and How to Fix It
A digital certificate encrypts and protects the internet connection between a device and a website. Without a digital certificate, a website cannot “trust” a device, and the device will subsequently not be able to connect. Devices released before 2017 are most likely to be affected, especially if they never received a firmware update. However, according to Tom’s Guide, there are workarounds.
If this issue is not resolved, apps and services that require an internet connection will not work on these older devices.
The certificate in question is known as the IdentTrust DST Root CA X3 and is issued by Let's Encrypt, a non-profit organization that is one of the largest issuers of these digital certificates. The IdentTrust DST certificate is so widespread that its expiration date can cause major connectivity issues with various devices.
