Comment by anonymars
9 hours ago
This applies to grandparent too (for the record I largely agree with them) but the issue isn't just "authenticity" but "identification" -- there's no real attestation about who is in on the other end of the site. This identity was once at least somewhat part of the certificate itself.
Yes, it is fair to say that domain names are not the sum total of identity. However, the EV certificate experience showed that, at least in terms of WebPKI and the open Internet, there really isn't anything better than domains yet.
We have clear and seemingly easy go-to examples like proving that yes, this is THE Microsoft, and not a shady fly-by-night spoof in a non-extradition territory, but apart from the headline companies--who as of late seem to like changing their names anyway--this actually isn't easy at all.
Walled gardens like app stores have different trade-offs, admittedly.