Get a SSL Certificate

A recent report showed that 91 percent of users who peruse the Internet come across a security alert, with about half ignoring the alert and half abandoning the search. What do these alerts mean, and why should a developer know what it means? Now is the time to get a SSL certificate and ensure your users connection is secure.

The industry commonly uses the acronym SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer. Netscape created this type of encryption technology. Its purpose is to make the connection between your server and a client’s browser safe and secure, allowing sensitive information like credit card purchases to send without the worry of data tampering.

SSL Certificate Protection

To get this kind of protection on your website, you need an SSL certificate installed on the server and identifies you. A web browser generally indicates this by displaying a green address bar or a padlock icon. It is also possible to securely visit a website by changing the HTTP in the URL to HTTPS.

Millions of businesses use these certificates on their websites to make them secure and let customers put trust in them. To get a certificate, you must contact a certificate authority. When you secure your website with a certificate, you need another certificate to digitally sign it. This certificate must already be stored in your users’ web browsers. By doing this, the web browser automatically accepts the certificate because it recognizes the trusted signature.

If your certificate lacks this signature or has broken links in the chain, the web browser warns users. It may indicate that your site is not trusted. If your website collects sensitive financial information, such as credit card numbers, you must secure the connection. An SSL certificate is essential for this purpose.

Get the SSL Certificate Trust

It’s a fact that customers will not trust your website without this certificate. In fact, about 70 percent of shoppers online abandon the order when they feel they do not trust the transaction. Of those, 64 percent indicated that having a trust mark would have given them the trust they required. An SSL certificate and a site seal on your website can prevent you from losing money due to users abandoning the site.

SSL encrypts all communication between the server and the browser. This ensures only the intended recipient can understand the transmitted information. Encryption is crucial because, without it, any computer could intercept sensitive data. This includes usernames, passwords, social security numbers, or credit card information. With SSL installed, only the intended server can read the data sent by the customer. This technology effectively protects against thieves and hackers. It should be noted that you must have web hosting before you can install your SSL certificate on your site and here 7 things to consider when hosting.

Secure transactions

An SSL certificate not only provides encryption but also authenticates a server. This reassures customers that you are receiving their information, not a criminal’s server. This authentication is crucial because data often passes through several computers between the server and the browser. Any one of these could try to impersonate your website and steal information. The only way to prevent this is to obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted authority and use public key infrastructure.

Trusted SSL providers play an important role. They issue SSL certificates only after verifying a company and conducting thorough identity checks. Some kinds of certificates, such as EV SSL certificates, require more hoops to jump through than others. How can you tell when a provider can be trusted? There are plenty of companies that have a reputation out there, such as VeriSign.

Assurance with the SSL Lock

Web browsers provide visual cues like a green address bar and a lock icon. These cues show visitors when they have a secure connection. When visitors see these cues, they are more likely to make purchases and submit information through your website. Without an SSL certificate installed on your server, users are more likely to leave your site. This can lead to losing potential sales. To build trust with prospective customers, you need an SSL certificate. This simple step can save you significant headaches in the future.

Of course, it is also worth mentioning that SSL certificates can also protect against phishing attempted by criminals. These emails are sent by potential thieves who try to pretend to be your website. Typically, attackers send a link in an email that directs to their website. They may also use an attack that intercepts information as it redirects to your website. Since obtaining an SSL certificate is difficult for them, creating a full impersonation of your business is challenging. Users are less likely to fall for these attacks if they do not see trust indicators in their browsers. These indicators include the padlock icon or the green address bar.