Final answer:
The statement regarding a publicly accessible centralized directory for viewing the status of a digital certificate is true, known as a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) or an Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP).
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true. There is indeed a publicly accessible centralized directory that serves the purpose of allowing individuals to view the status of a digital certificate. This directory is known as a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) or can be part of an Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP). CRLs are lists of certificate serial numbers that have been revoked, and they are released by certificate authorities at regular intervals. OCSP provides more real-time verification of a certificate's status, making a direct inquiry to the certificate authority to confirm the current validity of the digital certificate.
While both methods serve the same fundamental purpose of checking if a digital certificate is still trusted, OCSP tends to be the preferred method due to its more timely updates. Using these protocols ensures that the digital certificate in question has not been compromised or invalidated since its issuance.