SSL Certificates
You need SSL if...
…you have an online store or accept online orders and credit cards.
…your business partners log in to confidential information on an extranet.
…you have offices that share confidential information over an intranet.
…you process sensitive data such as address, birth date, license, or ID numbers.
…you need to comply with privacy and security requirements.
…you value privacy and expect others to trust you.
Public and Private Keys to Privacy.
An SSL Certificate consists of a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt information and the private key is used to decipher it. When a browser points to a secured domain a secure sockets layer handshake authenticates the server and the client, and establishes an encryption method and a unique session key. They can begin a secure session that guarantees message privacy and message integrity.
Don't Reveal Yourself on the Internet.
Without SSL encryption, packets of information travel networks in full view. Imagine sending mail through the postal system in a clear envelope. Anyone with access to it can see the data. If it looks valuable, they might take it or change it.
Without third-party verification, how do you know a website is an authentic representative of a business you trust? Every SSL Certificate is created for a particular server in a specific domain for a verified business entity. Like a passport or a drivers license, an SSL Certificate is issued by a trusted authority. When the SSL handshake occurs the browser requires authentication from the server. If the information does not match or the certificate has expired the browser displays an error message.