You have most likely heard of SSL before but may not know much about it.
Maybe you only know that it has something to do with internet sites, but that is as far as your knowledge goes.
Or perhaps you do not even care what it is.
Regardless if you know or care, SSL is something that should be important to you.
In this article, we will go over what SSL is. You will learn why it is important to you and all the information that is included in the certificate.
We will also touch base with how you can get an SSL certificate for your own website, and go over the benefits of having an SSL.
What is SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It can also be referred to as a digital certificate.
SSL is a very important part of internet security. Those sites that have SSL often do better as customers feel better making purchases with sites that have this certificate.
When a site has an SSL, it shows that a third party has verified the organization’s identity.
If a website has an SSL, you can be assured that your private information, such as credit card numbers, is transmitted securely.
Other information that can be transmitted safely include the following:
- Medical records
- Legal documents
- Contracts
- Login information
- Proprietary information
If you want an SSL for your website, you must create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on your server.
A private key and a public key will then be created for your site. These two keys work together to create an encrypted connection.
When you receive your SSL certificate, you can install it on your server.
You can tell a website has SSL with a few different methods.
First, if the URL of the website says “http://”, it does not have an SSL. If it has just “https://”, it has an SSL. Check the following image.
If you see a padlock icon in the address bar, you can know that the site has an SSL. The padlock may be located on either the left or the right-hand side.
If you click on the padlock, a drop-down menu will provide more information.
A website owner does need to pay for an SSL. However, having an SSL can be the difference between a customer making a purchase or not making one.
It should be noted that not all SSL certificates are created equally, so it is best to do your research before purchasing one.
What does an SSL certificate all show?
Generally, an SSL certificate will show not only your domain name but also your company name and address.
It will also include your city, state, and country. There will also be an expiration date of the certificate.
The SSL certificate will also have a serial number on it. A copy of the certificate holder’s public key will also be included.
There will be a digital signature of the authority that issued the certificate.
What are the benefits of having an SSL certificate?
There are many benefits of having an SSL. These include:
- data is kept safe
- Google rankings can be increased with an SSL certificate
- Conversion rates are improved
- Builds trust between consumer and website
- Protects sites from Malware
In Summary
As you can see, SSL is very important to the internet. Millions of websites are currently using SSL to keep you safe. It should be equally important to you as well. Whether you have a website or not, it is always good to know if a site has an SSL certificate for your own safety.
