What is an SSL certificate?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It is a global standard security technology that enables encrypted communication between a web browser and a web server. SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection. SSL certificates have a key pair: a public and a private key. These keys work together to establish an encrypted connection.
Nowadays, Companies and organizations need to add SSL certificates to their websites to decrease the risk of reading or modifying sensitive information (credit card/debit card details, usernames, passwords, emails, etc.) transferred between two systems. When you see a padlock icon next to the URL in the address bar, that means SSL protects the website you are visiting.
Uses of SSL certificate
- It encrypts the data that’s being transmitted.
- It authenticates the identity of the website.
How to know any website has an SSL certificate.
There are mainly four ways to know any websites has an SSL certificate
- Padlock icon next to the URL in the address bar
- https URL prefix instead of http
- A green address bar (for Extended Validation certificates/EV SSL)
- A trust seal
*** If a website has no SSL certificate, Browsers show warning signs- such as a red padlock, connection is not secure, a line going through the website’s address.
Types of SSL certificate
As per different validation levels, There are mainly six types of SSL certificates
- Wildcard SSL certificate
- Domain Validated certificates (DV SSL)
- Multi-Domain SSL certificates (MDC)
- Extended Validation certificates (EV SSL)
- Unified Communications Certificates (UCC)
- Organization Validated certificates (OV SSL)
HOW DOES THE SSL CERTIFICATE CREATE A SECURE CONNECTION?
When a browser access a website that is secured by SSL, the browser and the web server establish an SSL connection using a process called an “SSL Handshake”
- Browser connects to a web server (website) secured with SSL (https). Browser requests that the server identify itself.
- Server sends a copy of its SSL Certificate, including the server’s public key.