Ssl Web Certificates Are Crucial To Security On The Internet

HTTPS certificates or Secure Sockets Layer is a security protocol that is used on the web in the form of SSL certificates to prevent unauthorised theft of data from computer server to computer client. In this way they can help to prevent and reduce the amount of fraud (on ecommerce sites) and theft of data as well as to help with conversion rates on ecommerce websites. The SSL certificates or https certificates, dependent on your preference are normally used to secure sites where information or data is passed from the user machine to a server, where it can potentially be eavesdropped upon and intercepted, such as with ecommerce sites or online banking. SSL itself uses a form of encryption called, cryptography in order to 'scramble' data that only the recipients of the SSL certificate know about and can successfully unscramble.

SSL certs themselves can really help an online store to garnish trust between them and their customers as the customers know that the online store has thought about their details and protecting them. You can identify sites with a SSL certificate, simply by looking in your browser to see a padlock symbol in the address bar. According to guidelines issued by the PCI, an online ecommerce store must use a trusted and valid SSL certificate or they can face fines. What may at first seem a strong rule is actually beneficial as many online shoppers will simply click the back button on their site if they do not see a secure page when they go to the checkout pages. So more then a necessary legal requirement the SSL can help to show you are a trusted site that people can do business with.

Most SSL certificates that are live on websites are 128 bit. There are some 256 bit SSL certificates on the market and these offer an even higher level of security for users entering the personal and credit card details online. Sites using this level of online security are mostly safe from computer hackers.

The choice facing ecommerce site owners is whether to get their own SSL certificate (domain or company validated) or to get a shared SSL certificate. There are pros and cons to each such as a shared ssl certificate will usually redirect you off your domain (which some shoppers do not like) to a secure central domain and then return you back when you have paid. Whereas a dedicated SSL certificate, is issued to your domain (or company) but is considerably more expensive than a shared SSL certificate. They also need to be renewed per annum, so don't forget to renew them if you get a dedicated one.

In the world of the online internet hacker and criminal, identity theft and fraud is on the rise but with successfully installing an SSL Certificate on your website you are helping your customers to feel safe to purchase at your store and to limit the chances a hacker can intercept and steal valuable information. Without an certificate, a ecommerce site will not gain serious business, so it can also be seen as a marketing tool.

By: Felicity Lightbody

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Felicity is a passionate web security analyst who likes to advertise the correct ways to safeguard business websites. Felicity works for a SSL certificate provider who resell Microsoft IIS SSL cert as well as 256 bit SSL certificates in the UK. For more information please visit, SSL 247