Facts About SSL

You may have noticed the extra “s” in the address bar of your browser either when you are on an online store or when filling an online form or even on a website. Have you ever asked yourself why the “s” and what does it mean? One of the most important aspect of an online business is creating a trusted and secure environment. With the https in place, website visitors will have secure online session. This article will help to provide an insight on ssl.

What is SSL

SSL is a technology for establishing a secure connection between a server and a client. In other words, ssl is simply a means of providing security when you are browsing on your mobile phone, on your pc or your tabs. Its very risky submitting your data on a website without a valid ssl certificate, this is because hackers can intersect and compromise your data privacy.

Types of SSL Certificate

All SSL certificates have the same level of encryption but it is the level of validation that differentiates them. Validation level refers to the extent of checks that a Certificate Authority does to verify the identity of a person or organization that owns a website.

Domain Validated

Domain Validation (DV) certificate offers a low level of encryption, it is shown as a green padlock next to the url in the address bar. This is the quickest validation you can receive, and you’ll only need a few company documents to apply. Domain Validated SSL certificates are issued more quickly than the other ones, this is due to the less verification process, which is generally online and automated. It is the cheapest option of the three.

Organization Validated

In this type of SSL Certificate, background checks and verification process are intensive. Certificate authorities verify the individual or business that own the domain and do some minor vetting. In the browser address bar, an Organization validated SSL certificate is signified in the same way as domain validated SSL, with the “https” prefix and a padlock symbol.

However, when you click on the padlock it will display more information about that company that owns the domain, such as name, address, and country.

Extended Validation

This is the highest level of SSL certificate you can get, when issuing extended validation certificate, The certificate authorities do extensive background checks on the organization, validating its ownership, physical location and other background checks. A website with an EV certificate will turn part or all of the browser web address bar green. The padlock symbol will also be featured, as well as the organization’s name.

How To Know If The Website I Visit Has SSL

In the address bar, the url says “https://” and not “http://”

The URL should look something like the screenshot below. Remember, an SSL-encrypted website will always have that “s” that stands for “secure.” Additionally, that text can show up green and follows a green padlock. See the image below.

You will see a padlock in the address bar. The padlock will show up on the left corner of the address bar,

depending on your browser. See the image below.

The Certificate Is Valid

The fact that a website has the https:// and a padlock does not mean that the certificate is valid. If the certificate has expired, then it means your connection is not secure. See the image below.

In conclusion, secure socket layer(ssl) is a technology that ensures a secure connection between your browser and the web server, this means that data shared through the browser will be encrypted and hackers will not have access to your data. the “s” in https:// means the site is secure and tte padlock symbol also shows that the site is also secure.