SSL Certificate: SSL Certificates (Secure Sockets Layer) is used to secure and encrypt crucial information of users asked by any websites, such as email id, password, user id, credit card/debit card details, etc., that are sent over the internet. The websites that are branded with HTTPS in their URL address, are usually secured with SSL. Its successor is called Transport Layer Security (TLS), which is also used to secure the user’s sensitive data transferred within the internet.
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate given to set up a new website. This certificate is given to enable a new encrypted connection. Based on this document, the certificate authority confirms to the clients that the web service providing host owns the domain authority, at the time of issuance of the certificate. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer.
Students can find more about Certificates, explore the types used for academic purposes, professional purposes and more.
What is the Use of SSL Certificates?
SSL is mostly used by e-commerce websites, where users have to submit their personal information, such as name, mobile number, address, bank details, debit card and credit card details. The process of providing the SSL certificate is mostly in a way of sending emails after the information is been sealed in an envelope.
The websites holding SSL certificates ensure that the information between the users and they are kept confidential and secure. It helps to make sure that the hackers do not reach the personal details of users or consumers. There is a huge growth in e-commerce industries, but with this, the safety of the information is also necessary. SSL certificates are a way to build that trust between users and other websites. It ensures that th websites are verified and they can use it without any security issues.
Any websites/people/software/computers/devices that are exchanging private or sensitive information on any network have to use SSL, which includes the internet and web also. This private information includes username, passwords, credit/debit card numbers, address & personal details, any documents, etc.
Types of SSL Certificates
Each and every website owner should hold the SSL certificates, issued by Certification Authorities. These officials provide and manage security certificates (SSL & TLS), that are used in a public network for communication.
Based on the number of domain and sub-domain, there are three types of SSL certificates:
- Single: It secures one complete domain or sub-domain
- Wildcard: It covers one domain and unlimited subdomains under it.
- Multi-domain: It secured multiple domain names.
Based on the level of security, there are three different levels of SSL certificates. These level of security differs from each other in various aspects. Therefore, one should know the type of SSL certificate used by a website while performing any activity that uses the personal and financial information of users. The three types are:
- Domain Validated SSL Certificate (DV)
- Organisationally Validated SSL Certificate (OV)
- Extended Validation SSL Certificate (EV)
Domain Validated (DV)
The process of verifying the owner of the website is called domain validated. It simply demonstrates the domain validation of the website owner. In this process, the Certification authorities will send a verification mail to the website owner and confirm their identity. The email is sent to the registered email address. No other information is been verified of the owner, therefore this certificate has the lowest level of trust. These websites are easy to obtain, and it becomes easy for cybercriminals to show the website a secure one.
Organisationally Validated (OV)
This type of certificate is issued when the details of organisation such as its domain and physical address are verified. It takes one ot two days to verify and issue the OV certificate. This is a bit more secured than DV certificates where the users can interact with the organisation without entering their personal details or making any financial transactions.
Extended Validation (EV)
The extended validation certificate is issued to such websites that carry personal information of the users including their financial details. To make it sure, that the personal details provided by the users to the websites are secure and safely handled, the Certification authorities verify the organisation website’s domain along with other checking with corporate documents, owner’s identity, and verifying the database with the third party, To check if a website is having EV certificate, the URL of the browser should contain a padlock and if organisations are listed in green color.
How to Get an SSL Certificate?
If an organisation is seeking for SSL certificate, they need to get the domain from Certificate Authority (CA) which is a trusted the third party. CA is responsible to generate and provide the SSL certificate after the required verification. The certificate is signed by CA, digitally, that acts as a private key. This private key is allowing the client devices to verify it. Most of the CA charges fees to issue SSL, but not all.
After getting issued by the SSL certificate, it has to be installed by the owner and activated on the website server itself. After the activation is done through the origin website, the website is loaded through HTTPS, which proves the domain authority. Through this URL, the traffic to and from the website will be encrypted and handled securely.
FAQ’s on SSL Certificate
Question 1.
What is an SSL certificate?
Answer:
SSL certificates are used to secure and encrypt crucial information of users asked by any websites, such as email id, password, user id, credit card/debit card details, etc., that are sent over the internet.
Question 2.
What is the full form of SSL?
Answer:
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer.
Question 3.
Where to get the SSL certificate online?
Answer:
Any website, organisation, person, or device seeking for SSL certificate, needs to get the domain from Certificate Authority (CA) which is a trusted third party. CA is responsible to accept the applications, verify them, generate and provide the SSL certificate. The certificate is signed by CA, digitally, that acts as a private key. This private key is allowing the client devices to verify it. Most of the CA charges fees to issue SSL, but not all.
Question 4.
What information does an SSL certificate contain?
Answer:
The SSL certificate includes the following information:
- Name of the domain of the website
- Name of person, organisation or device of the owner
- Name of Issuing authority
- Signature (digital) of issuing authority
- Issue date of SSL certificate
- The expiration date of SSL certificate
- Public key
Question 5.
Why do websites need SSL certificates?
Answer:
To keep the user data secured, websites have to keep SSL certificate as proof that their website is safe to use, without any information leaking. It helps in gaining the trust of users. Confidential information such as username, password, credit/debit card details, etc. are secured through SSL.
Question 6.
Who issues an SSL certificate?
Answer:
Certificate authorities digitally issue the SSL certificate, signed by them.
Question 7.
What type of information is secured by SSL?
Answer:
SSL secures personal information of users such as username, password, date of birth, email address, phone number, credit card and debit card details and other crucial information.