Keeping personal data safe and secure when using the internet is one of the biggest concerns for both website owners and users.
Cyber attackers continually develop sophisticated ways to hack into internet sites to steal sensitive data to use in fraudulent ways.
Whether you are using some kind of a financial sevices , or playing in an online casino site in New Jersey, when it comes to dealing with finance online, you want to be sure that your details are kept from prying eyes.
This is where secure sockets layer (SSL) technology comes to the fore, as this allows your browser to connect securely to the sites that you visit.
When you access a site with an SSL certificate you will immediately notice that the URL says ‘https://’ as opposed to ‘http://’. The ‘s’ stands for secure which indicates that the site is safe to visit.
You will also see a clickable padlock icon in the URL bar, which shows more information about the site and the company that provided the certificate.
If you visit a site that requires you to enter sensitive personal information, it is always advisable to double check whether the certificate is valid before proceeding.
What is an SSL Certificate?
SSL certificates are small files that establish an encrypted link between a web server and a browser to ensure that the data passed between the two remains private.
When you visit any site that requires you to enter personal details, these can be intercepted by a hacker if an SSL certificate is not in place.
However, on a site that is encrypted with SSL, your browser connects with the server to ensure that only you and personnel authorised by the site can see or access the information.
The connection is formed instantly and gives users peace of mind that they can enter sensitive personal information without fear of it falling into the wrong hands.
Are There Different SSL Certificates?
There are three types of SSL certificates – Extended Validation (EV SSL), Organization Validated (OV SSL) and Domain Validated (DV SSL).
While the encryption levels are the same for each certificate, the vetting and verification processes needed to obtain the certificate are different.
EV SSL certificates are the most expensive to obtain, with the Certificate Authority (CA) conducting a thorough vetting of the organisation and checking their right to use a specific domain name.
For sites wishing to demonstrate the highest levels of authenticity to their users, an EV SSL certificate is the ideal solution.
How Does SSL Offer Protection?
SSL tech is a digital procedure that verifies that the site you are visiting is wholly legitimate and owned by the correct company.
The presence of a valid certificate tells visitors that they are accessing the correct site and keeps sensitive personal data away from cyber criminals.
Visitors to a site are much more likely to complete an online purchase for goods or services if it has an up-to-date and verifiable SSL certificate.
For organisations such as banks, money transfer sites and online casinos, an SSL certificate is an excellent way of showing that they adhere to best practices in digital security.
How Does SSL Tech Work?
When you visit a site, you will attempt to connect to via your chosen browser which makes a request to the server to acknowledge that it is legitimate.
A copy of the SSL certificate is sent to the browser to be instantly checked whether it can be trusted or otherwise.
If the browser is happy with the information presented by the site, an SSL encrypted session will be launched and users can safely proceed.
In addition to giving users confidence, an SSL certificate also helps a site’s search ranking as Google now mark all ‘http://’ sites as ‘not secure’.
How Can I Get an SSL Certificate?
You will initially need to determine which type of certificate you need, particularly if you are hosting content on separate domains/subdomains.
They can be obtained from a Certificate Authority (CA) and for most users a DV SSL certificate is perfectly adequate for their needs.
However, if your organisation regularly processes financial transactions, it is advisable to use EV SSL certification to ensure your site portrays the highest level of trust and reliability.
SSL certificates are time-limited, so make sure that you remember to renew yours before it runs out to avoid any nasty surprises.
SSL – The Final Word
An SSL certificate gives a site an increased level of credibility and the security it offers helps to ensures that users are more likely to complete a transaction.
They are an invaluable tool for any site that processes digital payments, particularly in industries such as online gambling, banking and other financial sectors.
In an age where cyber attackers adopt increasingly sophisticated techniques to hack sites, SSL tech is undoubtedly an essential security feature.
