SSL - Secure Socket Layer is the standard security technology used to encrypt online data. SSL offers encrypted communication between the server and the customer's web browser when transmitting credit card numbers and other personal information. The SSL protocol uses Certificate Authority (CA) to issue 'digital certificates' to the authenticated company. SSL working mechanism includes authenticating the server's identity, the website's identity and once the authentication is verified, the message will be sent in the form of encrypted information to the one who asked for a certificate. Normally, a browser requests a SSL certificate and in turn the web server supplies its public key with the requested certificate. Then, the browser has to verify whether the certificate issued is valid and also should verify whether the SSL certificate issued is related to the particular website for which the request has been made.
The importance of SSL certificate is felt when we give our credit card, personal information to e-commerce websites. Websites which we use for online shopping always should have a digital certificate. But, if we request a SSL certificate, it may take some time as the encrypted data from the server has to be decrypted to the user. SSL certification cannot easily be accessed by hackers because they should have the proper key to encrypt the data. So, in all ways the security of the certificate is taken care off and so one can really rely on the Certificate Authority. The most popular certificate authorities in the World Wide Web are Thawte and VeriSign.
An SSL certificate contains the details of the owner like his e-mail address, validity period, and Distinguished Name along with the Common Name and also the certificate identification of the person who issues this information. The Certification Authority maintains a list in which we can find names of the signed certificates and also about the revoked certificates. SSL certificates help customers to make quick decisions when they make some online transaction using their credit cards. Also, SSL increases the accountability and visibility of the company and creates goodwill and positive image among the customers. The certification maintains the data passed between the browsers and web server private and confidential. Thus, the website can meet the security, privacy and safety standards required to protect sensitive and personal data.
Websites providing IT services should also contain SSL certificates if they transfer sensitive information. Especially those websites with control panels or member areas of the hosting and domain customers should have SSL certification, as many sensitive data like personal details and passwords are collected and transferred by these websites. For example, if a website designing company asks his customer to fill the form by providing personal information and other requirements of the project, the customer will check for the SSL certification before sharing his personal details as he wants to be protected from Spam and hackers. Nowadays, online banking websites also carries SSL certificates to enhance their customers' confidence. Also, the website will be accepted globally only when it has SSL certification.
There is no doubt that the internet has effectively created novel opportunities for e-commerce. However, that development is also attracting numerous cyber criminals. A fraudulent web site imitating a legitimate business may attempt to woo innocent visitors into revealing personal information. The only ultimate solution of this problem is procuring a Secure Sockets Layer. Thus, every website should ensure that they have a SSL certificate when they accept credit cards and collect personal information from their customers.
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