SSL Certificate: A key to secure encrypted transactions.

Know the role SSL certificate plays while you’re scrolling through the web.

First, let’s look at an example.

You’re shopping online on a site without an SSL certificate. You enter your credit card details to continue the payment. Here your data is secured as plain text, which is vulnerable and prone to eavesdropping attacks. An attacker can easily intercept the data and use them. However, with an SSL certification, the data is sent as a private key that protects it from being intercepted. So only the intended recipient can view the data.

Thus, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certification is a form of security that creates a unique link for any information you send via the browser.

Why are SSL certificates essential?

• They are essential to encrypt communication between a website and a user’s web browser. Any sensitive information exchanged, like credit card numbers, or login credentials, can’t be intercepted or read by third parties.
• It provides a level of assurance to users that a website is legitimate and can be trusted.

Many web browsers will display a warning message if a user attempts to visit a site that does not have a valid SSL certificate.

How does SSL certificate work?

When a browser attempts to connect to an SSL-secured website, it asks the web server for a unique identity. A copy of the server’s SSL certificate is sent to the browser, which the browser validates. If the verification is successful, it sends a message to the server. The server responds with a digitally signed acknowledgment to begin an SSL-encrypted session. Now, the encrypted data is shared between the browser and the web server.

Thus, be sure to use an SSL-certified webpage to keep your digital space secure.