Find out what Secure Sockets Layer is and how it can benefit you:
With people having the ability to read the information of other folk, the Internet is not as safe as it once was. Hackers are people who are able to uncover the information that people pass on websites. It is also possible for them to get hold of confidential data like credit card details or passwords. Many hackers also have the ability to offer their own version of another person’s website and this can be hosted on their own server. This is done to fool customers who may be unaware of these issues. The majority of hackers act to obtain information that is of value and interest about people. One way of combating these hackers is by using the Secure Sockets Layer or SSL.
Since 1994 when it was developed by Netscape, the SSL has developed into a security technology that is now recognized as an standard across the world. It works in a way to ensure that a secure link between a server and a browser. All OF this adds up to making sure that any information that is passed between parties remains secure. The security can be seen the padlock emblem that appears on screen. Many e-Business companies appreciate this opportunity to safeguard the information of their customers as well as ensuring the confidentiality of any transactions that take place
The Certificate for SSL:
There is a need for the Certificates Authority (CA) to provide the SSL Certificates and this is what web servers need if they desire to use the Secure Sockets Layer protocol. A firm will be asked many different questions about their site and identity if they want to have the SSL present on their server. This is facilitated by the provision of two cryptographic keys which revolves around the Public and the Private keys. Of the two keys, the Public Key should not be a furtive. The key can be found contained in a CSR data file which hosts the date. After his, the user has to have their CSR submitted. Following this, the CA will validate the information that is contained in the CSR and the SSL certificate process. Another SSL certificate is provided with all the users details and this enables the user to use the SSL. The Private Key is then used to match the information of the SSL certificate. This process is offered to allow the web server to establish a secure link between the customer and your very own website.
Although these issues can be troublesome, customers are unable to see any of the issues and protocols. There is the provision of the key logo to their browser which guarantees a user they are covered by SSL and an encrypted session. Customers can see their details and SSL certificate by clicking on the lock icon which is provided on the screen. On the whole, SSL certificates are granted to respected and accountable individuals and companies.
The usual information contained within an SSL Certificate will usually provide country, state, city, and address, name of the company and the domain name of the site. The expiration date of the certificate will also be included as will further information about the Certification Authority that holds the responsibility for issuing the certificates. If the browser of the visitor connects to the secured site, the SSL certificate will be unable to retrieve the SSL certificate from the site. A quick search in the veracity of the sites SSL certificate will be undertaken and that it has been allocated to the website claiming it is for. Another check will also be undertaken on the date of expiry for the certificate. If for any reason the certificate does not pass all the questions asked of it, there will be a warning displayed to the final user.
The consumers are now much more comfortable with the golden padlock, which appears within their browser display. It is now considered as an indication of trust in the web site. In fact, this simple fact gives an e-Business provider an opportunity to influence the increased trust level in order to transform visitors into paying customers. All kinds of ecommerce shopping carts and sites that allow you to collect secure information on your website use SSL Certificates. However, it is also essential to keep in mind that while you use a secure server certificate with a form and get the result emailed to you, the email is not secure at all.
Functions that are new to users:
Many users may be aware of the SSL v2 version but the SSL v3 is a much improved version. The SHA-1 based cipher has been added and this offers assistance with regards to authenticating certificates. SSL v2 had some flaws like when cryptographic keys were utilized for both the authenticating messages and encryption. In addition to this, SSL v2 did not provide any level of protection for the handshake, leaving it open to “man in the middle downgrade attacks” occurring without anyone noticing.
Furthermore, the Secure Sockets Layer has been recently been succeeded by Transport Layer Security TLS. This TLS is based itself on SSL and has been incorporated as an integral part of Netscape and Microsoft browsers as well as of most of the Web server products. In present days, the Secure Sockets Layer uses private and public key encryption system from RSA that also includes the utilization of a digital certificate.
Do you have a need for an SSL Certificate? People who appreciate privacy and ask for it from others need to buy SSL:
* You will need to purchase the Secure Sockets Layer Certificate if you value privacy and expect others to trust your website and service.
* Those who have online shopping facilities and accept credit cards require the SSL certificate to provide a level of security about customer information.
* SSL Certificates can be a useful tool in an office if confidential data is placed on an intranet system.
* An SSL Certificate helps you to process several sensitive data including date of birth, ID numbers, address, telephone number or license number safely.
* If anyone in your firm utilizes an extranet, the SSL certificate is an additional layer of security from those wanting to hack your site.
Beneficial data to consider when buying SSL Certificates:
Although the Certificate Authority is an extremely wide one, there is a need to consider your requirements and budget before choosing who to buy from. There are a lot of SSL certificate firms that are able to meet many price ranges. There are 22 separate their parties who can be found from checking the Open Directory Project and there are also well over 20 root certificates that can be found in Internet Explorer and Firefox. The market however is dominated by a few firms and this is mainly down to pricing issues.
There was a survey undertaken by Netcraft in 2005 which set out to find the largest vendor that offers SSL certificates. This was followed in January 2007 when Security Space set out to undertake a similar project. This latter survey listed a few firms as being highly rated. These sites include Equifax represented by its GeoTrust subsidiary (www.equifax.com), VeriSign which was represented by the Thawte subsidiary (www.verisign.com), in addition to GoDaddy/Starfield (www.godaddy.com), Digicert (www.digicert.com) as well as Comodo (www.comodo.com).
Although some variance will exist due to the way that markets are measured, is is considered that these 6 companies share roughly 95% of the entire industry. The largest firm with a market share of 72% is Verisign and the next is Comodo which contains about 18% of the market share. This is followed by Geotrust that has just under 3.5% and then Entrust who have 2.5% of the market. The last company is GoDaddy which clocks in at around 1%. The remaining firms contain about 3 to 4% on average.
About author: Gregory Trune is a staff writer for WebHostingMadness.com and a web hosting industry blogger. Visit WebHostingMadness.com to read his reviews and ratings of top web hosting companies each month.