A digital certificate known as a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate serves two different purposes for a website: encryption and authentication. It creates a secure connection between the browser and the server and authenticates a website when viewed through a web browser. Like a TSA agent at the airport, it verifies your passport and boarding pass before allowing you to board the aircraft.
A reliable certificate authority (CA) has granted an SSL certificate to WindowsWebHostingReview.com, for instance. A website that displays a padlock icon next to the “https” portion of its URL is considered secure. A URL that starts with “http” and an unlocked icon are indicators of insecure websites.
It’s essential to communicate securely online. Keep in mind that bad actors are only going to become more resourceful and cunning (with better tools at their disposal), so you should only interact with SSL-protected websites. Let’s dive in and explore the vast ocean of SSL certificate knowledge that awaits us today.
What is SSL Certificate
It’s time to dive in headfirst now that you have a basic understanding of how SSL certificates operate. Let’s examine the functions, uses, and types of SSL certificates.
Secure Sockets Layer
A security protocol called SSL handles all the grunt work involved in encrypting data sent over the internet. The secure version of HTTP, known as Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), relies heavily on the cryptographic protocol. Together, they protect the integrity of the data, encrypt it, and verify the parties involved in communication. SSL, also known as SSL/TLS, is the ancestor of TLS, the encryption standard in use today.
Because of the high degree of encryption offered by SSL/TLS, any attempt to intercept this data will only result in a garbled string of characters. Decryption becomes almost impossible as a result.
Goal
Encryption is made possible and the work done by SSL is validated by an SSL certificate. In essence, an SSL certificate is a data file stored on the origin web server of a website. It contains information such as the domain name of the website that was registered, the name of the entity to which it was issued, related subdomains, the date of expiration, and the public key (the private key is stored separately and is dependent on your server setup).
SSL encrypts and decrypts data using the public key and private key, respectively. In conclusion, all “https” websites are granted an SSL certificate; “http” websites are unsafe and you should avoid them. SSL certificates verify the legitimacy of websites and create secure connections between servers and clients.
Types
Although SSL certificates come in a variety of forms, all offer the same degree of SSL/TLS encryption. However, they have different functions and range in price (the most expensive is an EV SSL certificate, while DV SSL certificates are the least expensive).
An overview of the various SSL certificate types:
- Domain Validated (DV): DV certificates are cost-effective and easy to obtain. They’re generally associated with a simple email verification process, require no business documents for verification, and are ideal for individuals, blogs, and small businesses. You can get a free or paid DV certificate from Let’s Encrypt.
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- Organization Validated (OV):Validating a domain, business, and obtaining third-party confirmation are necessary for an OV SSL certificate; this procedure typically takes one to three business days. It’s a good choice for small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, this certificate uses a time stamp from the relevant CA and a dynamic site seal to display an organization’s details.
- Extended Validation (EV):EV certificates, the original SSL certificates, are used by major corporations like financial institutions and e-commerce websites and are linked to the highest levels of trust. They work with the majority of web browsers and operating systems (OSes), provide comprehensive organization verification, and secure domains and subdomains. An EV SSL certificate must be validated within five to fifteen business days.
- Wildcard:The DV and OV forms of wildcard certificates are accessible, but the EV form is not. You cannot issue an EV wildcard certificate due to the rigorous vetting process for EV certificates, as per the guidelines set forth by the CA/Browser Forum. If you want to secure several subdomains under a single domain name, you can get a wildcard certificate. Wildcard certificates are linked to the character “*”.
A standard DV or OV SSL certificate makes sense if you only want to protect one domain name and don’t want to spend a lot of money. A wildcard DV or OV certificate can be purchased to secure several subdomains that are part of the same domain. Because EV certificates are linked to rigorous verification procedures, they are most appropriate for companies that handle payments.
How SSL Certificate Work
Asymmetric encryption using digital signatures is started during a TLS handshake and followed by symmetric encryption during an active session in the SSL/TLS encryption process. An SSL certificate issued by a certificate authority, which houses the public key used for asymmetric encryption, ties the entire process together.
Encryption Process
Asymmetric encryption, symmetric encryption, and digital signatures are just a few of the encryption techniques that SSL certificates make possible for safeguarding data while it’s in transit. This is where the SSL/TLS handshake comes in. All of the necessary data is hosted by an SSL certificate, which enables SSL/TLS to carry out the entire process.
Here is how these components work:
- Asymmetric encryption: It uses both public and private keys and is carried out during the SSL/TLS handshake. While the private key is secretly stored on the server side, public key information is made available on the SSL certificate.
- Digital signature: Digital signatures can be thought of as a means for senders to “sign” communications. A message’s authenticity is established by creating a digital signature through encryption, which only the sender can access.
- Symmetric encryption: Temporary session keys are used in this process for encryption, and both the client and the server use them at the same time. The keys expire at the conclusion of the session.
Let’s now talk about the SSL/TLS handshake protocol’s overall significance.
Handshake Protocol
The SSL/TLS handshake protocol creates a secure connection between the client and server and makes it easier to exchange cryptographic parameters. As the name implies, the server keeps the private key private during the handshake while making the public key public. Data sent by the client is encrypted using the private key during asymmetric encryption, which is started during the handshake and can only be unlocked with the private key.
The handshake concludes when the connection is established, temporary session keys are generated, and the client and server can communicate with each other using session keys (symmetric encryption of session data begins).
Certificate Authorities (CAs)
SSL certificates are issued by a CA to various entities, including people, websites, businesses, and email addresses. These organizations’ identities are verified by an SSL certificate, which also stores cryptographic keys that allow for safe, encrypted internet communication.
The entity must create a public-private key pair and submit a certificate signing request (CSR) to the CA in order to obtain a certificate (moderate to strict vetting follows, depending on the type of certificate). After the entity has been verified, the CA issues a certificate in accordance. Let’s Encrypt and DigiCert, for instance, are well-known certificate authorities.
Benefit
Be cautious when visiting any website without an SSL certificate as they are unreliable and might be trying to steal your financial or personal information. Watch out for and steer clear of website URLs that start with “http.” HTTPS security is always available for data exchange on a reliable website. The following are a few benefits of SSL certificates.
Data Security
To prevent data breaches and eavesdropping, SSL certificates encrypt sensitive data, including financial transactions and personal information.
They assist in establishing secure communication between a browser and the server, host the data required for data encryption that SSL/TLS executes, and guarantee that data cannot be intercepted and decrypted by malicious parties.
Trust and Credibility
By signaling to users that a connection is secure, SSL certificates increase credibility and trust by using visual cues like padlock icons and HTTPS URLs.
Let’s use WindowsWebHostingReview as an example once more, this time with visual aids.
Since the URL starts with “https,” an SSL certificate has been granted. You can verify that all personal information sent on the website is secure by clicking on the Connection is secure tab after clicking the padlock icon next to the URL. This indicates that the website has been certified by a reliable authority.
SEO Purpose
By following Google’s HTTPS ranking signal, SSL certificates can raise a website’s visibility and search engine rankings.
Even with excellent content, websites using HTTP URLs perform much worse in search rankings compared to those with SSL certificates, which provide increased website security. More organic traffic and potential clients may result from a higher ranking and increased visibility.
SSL Error that You Can Find
Errors in SSL certificates may harm one’s reputation. A web browser alerts users to the possibility that a website may be unsafe to access and use when it cannot establish a secure connection with the server hosting it (though in certain situations, you may still be able to access it). This happens when the browser is unable to authenticate the SSL certificate of a website. Fortunately, troubleshooting most of these errors is not difficult.
Certificate Mismatch
A certificate name mismatch is probably the cause of the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error, which comes in a few different forms. Using an antiquated TLS version (use the most recent version), using a content delivery network (change to one that supports SSL), caching problems (just clear your browser’s cache), and using an antivirus program that prevents some SSL-enabled websites (disable the app) are some common causes of this.
Mixed Content Warnings
Browsers may mark your website as having mixed content if it contains insecure resources on a secure website. This essentially indicates that there’s a chance some internal resources and links on your HTTPS-based website load over HTTP rather than HTTPS (a very common error). It is imperative that all files, scripts, and images utilize HTTPS. Put it this way: make every website resource HTTPS-enabled.
Expired Certificates
Your browser may be set to a different time and date than the real time and date, which is the humorous fix for an expired certificate in certain situations. Your SSL certificate may prematurely expire as a result of this. To fix this, update the date and time on your system.
Optimal Methods
Buying any SSL certificate won’t cut it; you also need to assess your company’s requirements and choose the best option. An EV certificate is the right tool for the job, for instance, if you run an early-stage eCommerce website or financial startup. A DV or OV SSL certificate won’t work. You should follow these SSL certificate best practices.
Extended Validation (EV) Certificates
Maximum credibility and trust are linked to an EV certificate. As previously mentioned, a thriving eCommerce business or financial startup, for instance, might process hundreds or even thousands of transactions every day. You’ll have to deal with sensitive data, such as credit card details and KYC information. EV certification is required.
Obtaining an extended validation certificate is a detailed process (which is required in this particular context), and it is an indication that you are taking all the necessary precautions to protect your users.
Certificate Transparency
Maintaining a record of SSL certificate issuances promotes accountability and transparency. It’s simple to obtain an SSL certificate from an unreliable source, but happily, the certificate transparency system has made it simpler to identify such behavior and problems.
In addition to requiring public certificate logging, the system raises the bar for overall internet security standards, helps prevent fraud, and enables website owners and administrators to verify that logging is accurate and publicly visible.
HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security)
Make sure that your domain supports HSTS. We previously talked about the potential for some website resources to be HTTP-enabled resources, which could be problematic when browsing. When a user clicks on a potentially malicious HTTP link or resource, your web browser will automatically switch from HTTP to HTTPS. This is achieved by enabling the web security standard known as HSTS on your website.
This standard offers unbreakable access to websites and their subdomains while assisting in the prevention of man-in-the-middle attacks.
Industry Standard for Online Credibility
On the internet, there are about 1.13 billion webpages. Since SSL certificates safeguard sensitive data and provide online communication security, they are considered a standard for credibility. Both the internet and cybercriminals’ expertise will continue to grow at an exponential rate. It would be like kicking yourself if you continued to use an HTTP domain and did not choose an SSL certificate.
It will not only label your website as unsafe, but it will also harm your online presence and lower your Google search engine ranking because HTTPS is an important Google ranking factor. Implementing SSL certificates must be your top priority as a website owner or administrator if you want to protect user privacy and foster confidence. Make sure you choose a reliable CA and ascertain the kind of certificate you require.
