An SSL connection is required in order for you to transmit your PCT applications from the PCT-SAFE client software to the receiving Office server. The same version needs to be active on the receiving Office server in order to create the secure connection (SSL handshake). The default version of SSL in your current client software is SSLv3.

A recent alert has shown that SSLv3 is vulnerable ("Poodle vulnerability"). To ensure that PCT e-filing continues to be secure, SSLv3 has been disabled on the RO/IB's receiving Office servers. Other receiving Offices have been advised to do the same. A new version of the PCT-SAFE client software will be released which removes the SSLv3 option and replaces it with a trusted version of SSL (TLSv1). We would advise you to update your PCT-SAFE client software as soon as possible.

In the meantime, if you have a PCT application to file, you do have the possibility to manually modify the SSL version in the PCT-SAFE File Manager, as follows:

  1. in the PCT-SAFE File Manager, select Tools>Settings;
  2. from the 'SSL version' pulldown menu select 'TLSv1';
  3. click OK. You will need to close PCT-SAFE and restart for the changes to take effect.

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