Let's Encrypt: Recurring Donations Crucial for Safer Internet

By Netvora Tech News

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Let's Encrypt, a digital certificate authority, has emphasized the importance of recurring donations for a safer internet. The project is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has already issued over 600 million free TLS certificates to domains.

Recurring Donations: More Than Just Financial Support

According to Shannon Robinson, a representative of the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG), which operates Let's Encrypt, recurring donations are essential. "Recurring donations are more than just financial support; they enable us to plan, innovate, and improve with confidence, knowing that our supporters are there month after month, year after year," Robinson explained. This ongoing support allows Let's Encrypt to maintain a secure and privacy-respecting internet for everyone.

Robinson expressed gratitude to all donors, acknowledging that their continued support is crucial for the project's success. In recent months, several projects have highlighted the need for donations. The Tor Project, for instance, launched a new campaign to find more annual donors, while Mozilla is asking users for donations after failing to receive $3.5 million from the US government.

A Rare Breed: Email Client Thunderbird's Low Donation Rate

In a rare instance, the developers of email client Thunderbird revealed that less than 3% of users donate to the project. This highlights the importance of recurring donations and the significant impact they can have on the success of open-source projects.

Let's Encrypt's reliance on recurring donations underscores the need for sustained support from the tech community. As the project continues to grow and evolve, its ability to maintain a secure internet for everyone depends on the generosity of its backers.