Have you ever thought about why certain URLs start with HTTP:// and others with HTTPS://? When accessing websites that need you to give personal information, such as when paying bills online, you may have seen the added "s."
But what does the extra "s" mean, and where did it originate?
Simply said, the added "s" means that your access to that website is protected and encrypted and that any information you provide is shared securely with that website. SSL, which stands for "Secure Sockets Layer," is the technology behind the little "s." When visiting a site that you trust with your personal information, search for HTTPS://.As a marketer, you may ensure that your target audience has at least one SSL certificate. Let's examine more about SSL Certificates.
What is an SSL Certificate?
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
SSL certificates are little data files that are used to establish a secure connection between a web server and a browser using SSL encryption. All data transferred between the web server and the browser is kept secret via this connection. A hacker can grab the information you submit on a page with a form to fill out and transmit on an unsecured website. This information could include everything from a bank account number to an email address used to submit a bid.
Your browser establishes a connection with the webserver, validates the SSL certification, and then binds your browser to the server when you visit an SSL-encrypted website. This secure connection ensures that the information you submit is only visible to you and the website. This connection is instantaneous, and some argue it is even faster than connecting to an unprotected website. Simply visit a website with an SSL certificate, and your link will be immediately protected.
The acronym SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It's a protocol that ensures the privacy of data sent between servers and web browsers. An encrypted connection between the server and the browser is used to accomplish this. SSL certification is classified based on the level of authentication and SSL encryption provided, as well as the number of domains or subdomains covered by the certificate.
Certificate of SSL Encryption and Validation
- Domain
- Organization
- Extended validation
A Number of Domains
- single
- multidomain
- Wildcard
How do SSL Certificates Work?
Image taken from Strikingly’s user website
- A browser or server attempts to connect to a website (i.e., a web server) that is encrypted using SSL. The browser/server requests that the web server authenticates itself.
- The web server provides a copy of its SSL certificate to the browser/server.
- The SSL certificate's trustworthiness is determined by the browser/server. A message is delivered to the web server if this is the case.
- The browser/server and the webserver both communicate encrypted data.
The following are the fundamental concepts to learn in order to comprehend SSL/TLS:
- The two communicating parties generate session keys during the TLS handshake, and the session keys encrypt and decrypt all communications after the TLS handshake
- To encrypt talks, each new session employs a unique session key
- TLS ensures that the person on the server-side or the website with which the user is communicating is who they say they are.
- Because a message authentication code (MAC) is included with the transmission, TLS ensures data has not been tampered with.
TLS encrypts HTTP data sent by users to websites (through clicks, forms, etc.) as well as HTTP data transmitted by websites to users. To decrypt encrypted data, the recipient must employ a key.
The TLS Handshake
In any TLS communication session, the handshake is the initial step. In a TLS handshake, asymmetric SSL encryption is performed, which implies that two separate keys are used on both ends of the conversation. A technology known as public-key cryptography makes this possible.
In public-key cryptography, two keys are used: a public key that the server makes public and a private key that is kept secret and only used on the server-side. Only the private key may be used to decode data encrypted using the public key, and vice versa.
During the TLS handshake, the client and server utilize their public and private keys to exchange randomly generated data, which is then used to generate new session keys for SSL encryption.
Advantages of an SSL Certificate
Image taken from Strikingly’s user website
SSL is a simple yet secure route for securely transmitting data. Because of the level of security, it provides for cloud-based transactions; it is important to both customers and enterprises. It's a big investment, but it'll pay off big time. If you're still not convinced, consider about SSL certificate advantages:
1. SSL Encrypts Data
The basic purpose of an SSL certificate is to secure server-client communication. Every bit of data is encrypted when there is SSL enabled. The data is locked and can only be accessed by the intended use because no one else has the key to open it (browser or server).SSL safeguards you from the hostile army of hackers and skimmers when dealing with sensitive data such as IDs, passwords, credit card numbers, and so on. A hacker's abilities are useless against SSL certification's unbreakable SSL encryption technology since SSL turns data into an incomprehensible format.
2. SSL Authenticates Your Identity
The authentication of a website is the second key function of an SSL certificate. One of the most critical parts of web security is identity identification. There's no denying that the internet is more deceptive than ever. People have lost tens of thousands of dollars as a result of fraudulent websites. This is when having an SSL certificate comes in handy.
3. Improved Position in Search Engines
Image taken from Strikingly’s user website
As we all know, Google is continually upgrading its algorithms, and it announced HTTPS as a ranking indicator in 2014. Browsers might display a confidence indicator (Pad Lock) in the address bar when you utilize the best SSL certificate to protect your website. This form of trust indicator can help your website's traffic and, as a result, your SEO score.
Brian Dean, the founder of Backlinko.com, conducted research that demonstrated a strong correlation between HTTPS and improved search engine ranks.
4. SSL Guards Against Phishing and Other Security Risks
As the number of people who use the internet increases, so does the number of phishing and MITM assaults. Protecting the website from such attacks is crucial for a variety of reasons. A simple approach is to install the best SSL certificate on the website. Because phishing necessitates the cloning of a website or pages, having a cloned website that is SSL-certified is nearly impossible. An EV SSL Certificate is the best SSL certificate for safeguarding a website against such assaults.
5. SSL Improves Client Trust and Income
An SSL Certificate for your website provides a trust signal known as a "Padlock." This padlock shows that the website is secure due to SSL encryption. Customers who trust the website's authenticity/security and share their personal information with it will see SSL encryption. Consumer confidence has risen as a result.
Businesses can leverage these security measures to convert visitors into customers by acquiring more confidence as a safe place to trade information. This is a huge step in the right direction for the company's sales.
Introducing Strikingly
Image taken from Strikingly
All Strikingly sites have HTTPS / SSL at no extra charge. This applies to both free and paid sites that use a custom domain. It's absolutely secure because it uses Let's Encrypt's HTTPS and SSL. We've got you covered from SSL certificate renewal to installation as one of the best SSL certificate providers. Let's Encrypt is a collaborative endeavor that has the support of most of the internet's most well-known corporations and organizations. Its purpose is to make the entire web more secure and provide consumers peace of mind about their personal information.
Strikingly understands the need of implementing data protection on your website. The same reason has driven us to implement automatic HTTPS for custom domains for a long time. This free HTTPS URL has just been expanded to accommodate all free sites. We feel every website is entitled to some level of protection. Simply put, when you construct a website with us, whether it's a free plan or one of our yearly plans, you'll get a free HTTPS certificate to secure your site. Isn't it an excellent feature for a free website?
Conclusion
Finally, we've learned how critical it is for a website to have the greatest SSL certificate. When you consider SSL's vital function in protecting your website and its visitors' information, it's clear that it's not nearly as complicated as it appears. Although it may appear that you have little to worry about, you must take this seriously as a customer and a business owner. Strikingly is committed to enabling consumers to construct secure websites with businesses and organizations dedicated to making the entire online a safer place to conduct personal and business activities.
Strikingly enjoys offering advice on how to build a secure and healthy website. We'd also want to know what's on your mind. Let's collaborate to create a dependable and solid website.
