Google have just announced it will boost the ranking of sites that use secure and encrypted connections. This is part of Google’s efforts to push “HTTPS everywhere” on the web.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a communications protocol used on the Internet that has a layer of security added. It is a combination of the standard HTTP protocol, and a security protocol called SSL/TLS.
HTTPS is important because standard HTTP sends data over the Internet in plain text making it easy to intercept. The added security layer with HTTPS encrypts information traveling over the internet to prevent wire tapping, stolen credit card numbers, and other interceptions.
What is a SSL Certificate?
SSL is the acronym for Secure Sockets Layer and is the Internet standard security technology used to establish an encrypted (or safe) link between a web server (website) and your browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, etc…). This secured link ensures that the data/information that is passed from your web browser to the web server remain private; meaning safe from hackers or anyone trying to spy/steal that info.
SSL is the industry standard and is used by millions of websites to protect and secure any sensitive or private data that is sent through their website. One of the most common things SSL is used for is protecting a customer during an online transaction.
To establish a secured SSL connection on a web server it requires an SSL Certificate to be properly installed. When completing the process to activate SSL on your web server you will be asked to complete a number of questions to verify the identity of your domain and your company. Once properly completed, your web server will create 2 types of cryptographic keys – one is called a Private Key and the other is called the Public Key.
Are all SSL Certificates the Same?
The number of businesses that use SSL have increased tremendously over the past few years and the reasons for which SSL is used has also increased, for example:
Some businesses need SSL to simply provide confidentiality (i.e. encryption).Some businesses like to use SSL to add more trust or confidence in security and identity (they want you to know that they are a legitimate company and can prove it).
As the reasons companies use for SSL have become wider, three different types of SSL Certificates have been established:
- Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates
- Organization Validation (OV) SSL Certificates
- Domain Validation (DV) SSL Certificates
Netcetera offers SSL Certificates from as little as £14.95/pa.
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