Secure Socket Layer Technology

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer and this technology is the standard for web security. SSL Certificates validate a website's identity and encrypt the information visitors send to, or receive from, the website. This keeps thieves from spying on any exchange between the website and the visitor's browser.

When a website is protected by an SSL Certificate, the site's visitors can rest assured that the information they enter on any secured page is private and can't be viewed by cyber criminals.

The Risks:

  • Unauthorized access: Someone accesses or misuses a computer system to intercept transmissions and steal sensitive information.
  • Data alteration: The content of an e-commerce transaction — usernames, credit card numbers and/or dollar amounts — is altered en route.
  • Monitoring: A hacker eavesdrops on confidential information.
  • Spoofing: A virtual vandal creates a fake site masquerading as another site to steal data from unsuspecting visitors or disrupt business.
  • Service denial: An attacker shuts down a site or denies access to other visitors.
  • Repudiation: A party to an online purchase denies the transaction occurred or was authorized.

The Solution:

  • Secure Socket Layer (SSL): SSL provides sound privacy protection by encrypting the channel between the website and the site visitor. In addition, SSL provides a security "handshake" that is used to initiate the connection. This handshake results in the client and server agreeing on the level of security they will use to fulfill any authentication requirements for the connection.
  • Server ID: Installed on the web server, a Server ID is a digital credential that enables visitors using web browsers to verify the site's authenticity and to communicate with it securely via SSL encryption.
  • Digital Certificates: Digital certificates are a kind of online passport issued by a trusted third party, a certificate authority, who verifies the identity of the certificate's holder. Digital certificates authenticate that their holders — people, websites and even network resources — are truly who and what they claim to be, and protect data exchanged online from intrusion. They are tamper-proof and cannot be forged.
  • Confirming SSL Security: In most web browsers you will see a closed padlock symbol in the address portion of the browser's window — this is a visual indicator that lets you know you're browsing a secure area.

The Benefits:

SSL Certificates inspire trust and show visitors that we value their privacy. An SSL Certificate protects our visitor's sensitive information — such as their name, address, password or credit card number — by encrypting the data during transmission from their browser to our web server.

How does it work?

An SSL creates a secure tunnel through which information — including usernames, passwords, credit card numbers and more — can pass safely.

  1. The SSL "Handshake"

    When a visitor enters an SSL-protected area of our website, an SSL Certificate automatically creates an encrypted connection with the visitor's browser.

  2. The padlock icon appears

    Once the connection is complete, a padlock icon and HTTPS prefix appear in the visitor's browser bar to show them they're safe to share personal details. If the site has a high-assurance EV Certificate, the visitor's status bar will also turn green.

  3. You're good to go

    A secure session is now established and all information passing to and from our website is scrambled by 2048-bit encryption that is virtually unbreakable by hackers.