What is an SSL certificate and why do I need one?

by | Aug 12, 2019

The vast majority of internet users probably don’t know the answer to this question. Talking about users also include website owners, people who use their sites to promote and sell their own or resell other people’s products, so – not just “ordinary” users. Of course, raising awareness of the dangers lurking on the Internet has led to use extra caution when surfing the Internet, and in particular, sharing of some personal, confidential information such as personal data, account number, online shopping procedures, etc.

man-holding-padlockThe question is whether there is at least some initial sign that the site we visit is secure and whether anyone guarantees it. And of course, we take into account the fact that literally the only (and safest) way to protect yourself from all kinds of dangers lurking on the Internet is to get out of it completely. You will admit, today this falls under the domain of science fiction. Therefore, in answer to the previous question we present to you the so-called “green padlock” or your SSL certificate.

What is an SSL certificate?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), also known as Digital Certificate, creates a virtually secure, encrypted connection between a website and a user’s browser. This connection provides secure, encrypted communication between them, preventing any third party, uninvited (read hackers) from possessing any information that is shared among them such as credit card number, name, etc. SSL is also used to securely send emails, files, and other types of data.

What are the benefits?

When talking about the benefits of having an SSL certificate, it may be more important to start with the need to have one at all. Namely, the former “luxury” of individual sites has become a necessity today. If ranking on Google matters (and trust us, it’s crucial), you’ll need to have an SSL certificate for all your web pages – not just those with login requirements or contact forms – at the time of launching Chrome 68. From July 2018, Chrome alerts visitors who access any HTTP web site (that is, one that is not certified because the one with the certificate is marked HTTPS).

hacker-with-laptopWhat started as an impetus and only affected pages with unencrypted password or text boxes became binding – without exception. Search engines, and the ones most used by people, simply mark your site. They may allow the user to access such a site, but with prior “scary” notice that they are entering a “minefield” or an unsafe area. And such risk is rarely accepted by anyone. However, the list of benefits does not end there. The positioning of your site in search is certainly increasing. Keep in mind that most sites today have this certification. What you can do for yourself, your website and your business are to at least be in a group that search engines like Google generally recognize as OK. No quality SEO is possible without the SSL now! Last but not least, trust is important. The trust that visitors and potential customers create and build by doing business with you, knowing it is a professional and good partner is also the foundation and the roof of your business success. Let’s be real, maybe your site is really secure, as not threatened by viruses, Trojans, potential theft and misuse of data … But you have nothing to prove such a thing. The only way is to have a certificate.

How can I get one?

SSL certificates are issued by certain certification bodies, but not all bodies are the same, so you should consider whose certificate you buy. Nor is the fact that there is no single SSL certificate but a handful. We are practically talking about the degree of protection and reliability that each offer, and of course the price on the other hand. As for the brands, we can mention SYMANTEC SSL (as a leader in this field), then THAWTE SSL, GEOTRUST SSL, RAPID SSL.

Speaking of the types of certificates we have, there are Extended Validation or Green SSL certificates. They are different from other browser certificates. When a website has this certification, the site name will be green. The EV Certifying Authority provides the highest possible guarantees that this site is secure and not false. Most commonly recommended for banks and online stores. For sites through which less sensitive information is exchanged or logged in to users, standard certificates are recommended, which also have a high level of security. To protect the internal communication, for example, to exchange e-mails, then basic SSL certificates are sufficient. The link here is encrypted as with other certificates and the difference is that it does not say who owns the site.

In terms of how to get the right certificate, it should be noted that there is no exclusive distributor in Serbia. However, there are a certain number of offers at relatively affordable prices.

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