SSL may sound familiar to many people but they might not necessarily know what it does exactly, except that it has something to do with the internet. Many large and popular websites already have SSL, even though you may not know it. Look at your navigation bar above and you’ll notice a padlock; this means any data you transmit to the website will be secure.
Why is it important?
In a nutshell, Secure Sockets Layer is used to secure the data transmitted over the internet between your computer and the destination servers. This could be the password you used to log into Facebook or your credit card information when you are purchasing something online, basically any important information you wouldn’t want others to know.
With an SSL certificate, any information that is transmitted becomes encrypted by inserting random characters into the original message making it unreadable to everyone except the intended server. This makes it nearly impossible for hackers to steal your information.
Should I use SSL?
If you have a website, especially one with e-commerce, SSL is a must – no if’s, and’s, or but’s. Not only does it help keep your customer’s information safe, having SSL on your website keeps their mind at ease as well because it also provides authentication. You want to make sure whatever you are sending over the internet is going to the right server.
Starting in 2017, Google will begin labeling any websites that do not have SSL as “Not secure.”
When you go to the Bank Of America’s website, Google Search site etc, you know it is the actual website and not a fake website because you can see the padlock in the navigation bar. Another way is by seeing the “HTTP” replaced with “HTTPS” in the URL. If you don’t, then the website is not secure and is probably made to look like the real one where identity thieves can steal your banking information.
How to install SSL
A standard SSL certificate can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 a year depending on who you are hosting with. To install SSL on your server, you must generate a certificate signing request (CSR). This will determine which server will use your certificate as well as the domain names using the SSL. Once this is done, you are able to request an SSL certificate. If you are not hosting on your own server, then you need to provide documents stating that you are the true owner of the domain in question. After you have been issued an SSL certificate file, which you can install on your server.
If you weren’t familiar with SSL before this, then you’ll start to notice it more and more and if you do come across a website that doesn’t have SSL, think twice before submitting any information.
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