Problem

When I view the Details tab in a certificate, I see a caution symbol next to the field name.

Solution

If you view the details of a certificate within either a Microsoft Windows Operating System or within the Microsoft Internet Explorer internet browser, you may see a 'caution symbol' next to one or more of the field names.  The field (or extension) that this symbol is next to is called a Critical Extension or the Criticality Indicator.

The following images displays this symbol:


The Critical Extension icon as displayed in the details of a certificate (Windows XP).


The Critical Extension icon as displayed in the details of a certificate (Windows 7 & 8).


The Critical Extension icon (Windows XP).


The Critical Extension icon (Windows 7 & 8).

Many of the extensions within a certificate can be marked either critical or non-critical. 

• If an extension is marked non-critical, you will see a green down arrow symbol.


• If an extension is marked critical, then you will see the Critical Extension icon.
  

These extensions are set by QuoVadis following the rules depicted within RFC 5280.  The display of these symbols and icons do not affect the way that an SSL certificate is installed onto a website.  The Critical Extension is a flag that instructs software applications that use certificates, whether it is safe to ignore the extension does not recognize it.