What is an SSL
certificate?
A
simplest of language, it is that padlock icon with https:// in the address bar;
preceding the URL of the website you visit. It depicts that all your data,
including your username, email, passwords, and Credit card details are secured,
and safe from hacking attempts.
And if
you really want to know the technicalities of SSL, then first you need to know:
What is HTTPS?
Before
diving into HTTPS, it is important to understand its basic definition of HTTP.
HTTP
stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and is a communication protocol that
Servers and Clients implement to communicate.
It all
started in 1989 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and since then it has been widely used
as the default communication protocol.
So what’s wrong with HTTP and why
go for HTTPS?
Under
HTTP, the information is transferred in plain text, which allows the network to
see the info transmitted.
A big security concern! Isn’t It?
So, to
solve this HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) came into play. It
initially establishes an encrypted channel and then transmits data from the
browser to the client.
Why important is it for
my Website?
A lot!
In
February of 2018, Search giant Google announced that they will treat all
Non-SSL sites as not secure. Since then many sites have moved to https for better.
And if
you are still stuck, then your visitors will see a warning and you will lose a
significant amount of visitors and experience high bounce-rate.
And you
don’t want that Right?
That’s
why you need SSL!
What are SSL and TLS?
SSL stands for Secure
Socket Layer.
SSL is
the certificate which enables HTTPS.
An
encrypted channel in HTTPS is created using Transport Layer Socket (TLS) or
Secure Socket Layer (SSL).
SSL
utilizes a public and private key to establish an encrypted connection.
How do I choose an SSL
certificate?
There
are many types of SSL certificates
available. We have explained in brief about 3 of them. By the End of this
section, you’ll be clear about your type of certificate.
1 1.Domain
Validation Certificate (DV)
One
of the most common types as well as the cheapest of all. A DV certificate is
checked against the domain registry.
But
is often considered risky, as an individual, could not validate the legitimacy
of the business.
2. Organization
Validation (OV) Certificate
An
organization validation certificate is often trusted and can contain legal
business details like organization name, state, and country. Validation of such
certificates requires real agents.
3. Extended
Validation Certificate (EV)
An
Extended validation certificate checks the organization behind the website.
This is obtained after checking the legal entity that controls the domain. Yes,
somewhat similar to OV certificates.
How to obtain it
involves checking:
·
Domain
Control
·
Government
Business Records
·
Independent
Directories of Business
·
Phone
call verification
4. Wildcard
SSL Certificates
Also
known as Single-name SSL certificates, protects one subdomain.
Example:
If you purchase a certificate for www.example.com, it won’t apply to
mail.example.com.
Single name
certificates are a good choice only if you are looking to add it to just one
sub-domain.
Now,
what if you want a universal certificate, that’s when Multi-Domain
SSL certificates come in.
By now
you must have decided which of these is the ONE for you and suits your needs.
Conclusion
By now you must have understood the importance of SSL certificates. It not only boosts your search engine ranking but also gives you a huge advantage online.
By now you must have understood the importance of SSL certificates. It not only boosts your search engine ranking but also gives you a huge advantage online.
Most
importantly it provides customers the confidence that you’re protecting their
information and that you care about them.
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