You may have noticed when visiting the internet that certain websites have a tiny lock icon in the URL bar, signifying they have an SSL certificate. Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, is a protocol that encrypts data exchanged between a user’s web browser and a website’s server to protect sensitive data like passwords and credit card details. Although SSL is a crucial part of website security, it is not available for free. In this post, we’ll look at why SSL isn’t free, how to get an SSL certificate and install it, where to get an SSL certificate, why pricing for SSL vary, and how to tell whether a website has an SSL certificate.
Because a trustworthy third party is needed to issue and verify the certificate, SSL is not free. It is the responsibility of this third party, referred to as a Certificate Authority (CA), to make sure that the SSL certificate is valid and provided to the right website. You are effectively paying the CA for their assistance in confirming the legitimacy of your website and generating a certificate that users can trust when you buy an SSL certificate. Because of the time and resources needed for this process, SSL certificates are not available for free.
You must first select an SSL certificate that works for your website before you can purchase and install it. SSL certificates come in a variety of formats, including domain validation, organization validation, and extended validation. You must generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from your web server and submit it to the CA after choosing the right certificate. Following the CA’s confirmation of your website’s legitimacy, you can install the SSL certificate on your web server when it has been issued by the CA.
While there are many CAs that sell SSL certificates, it’s crucial to pick one that users and web browsers both trust. Comodo, GlobalSign, and DigiCert are a few well-known CAs. The amount of validation necessary, the duration of the certificate’s validity, and the reputation of the CA can all affect the price of SSL certificates. Before making a purchase, it is crucial to comparison shop and check prices.
Look for the lock icon in the address bar of your web browser to determine whether a site has an SSL certificate. To examine details about the SSL certificate and the CA that issued it, click on the lock icon. The URL of a website with an SSL certificate will also start with “https” rather than “http”. This shows that the website is encrypting data sent between your browser and the website’s server using a secure connection.
In conclusion, SSL costs money since a reliable third party is needed to create and validate the certificate. You must select a credible CA, create a CSR, and submit it for verification in order to purchase and install an SSL certificate. The amount of validation necessary, the duration of the certificate’s validity, and the reputation of the CA can all affect the price of SSL certificates. SSL enables websites to safeguard sensitive data and defend consumers from online dangers.