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| Website Security Certificates |
Presently,
the security of online internet transactions is very critical, in order to
prevent the unauthorized usage of credit and debit card numbers and other
internet frauds. In order to secure these transactions, a Secure Socket Layer,
or SSL certificate is installed on an ecommerce website. Though some
sites also operate without this certification, it is advisable to use the same
so as to ensure maximum data security.
How
an SSL certificate provides a sense of security?
Adding
an SSL certificate gives customers a feeling of security through two different
ways. Firstly, an https:// notification will certify that the site is secured. Along
with this, the credit card numbers will appear encrypted and information on the
website will be matched with the certificate authority. Digital certificate
is mainly an electronic credit card to establish the online shopper's
credentials of a website. The digital certificate must be used on the
same domain name that has been stated in it; otherwise it will be termed unauthorised.
Types of SSL
certificates
There
are three types of certificates that can be used on an ecommerce website.
Different levels of validation are given to a company in order to prove its
genuineness. The first one is Domain
validated (DV) SSL certificate. Issuers of this certificate check the
ownership credentials of a domain as against the WHOIS database. Only the
applicant's name and contact information is verified in this type. It is the
simplest form of SSL and prevents users from encountering warning screens. The
next type is an Organizationally Validated (OV) security certificate.
Rigorous certification is followed in this type by checking organisational
credentials and verifying the activity of business and home addresses of
entrepreneurs. It is much more advanced than DV SSL. Last is the Extended
Validation (EV) SSL, also the newest form introduced as recently in 2007. It adheres
to industry-recognized certification procedures and their validation criterion
is even more stringent. One of the new features introduced in this is color coding
of web browsers and denoting secure connections. Browser windows turn green on
encountering a valid website and red for a phishing or fake website.
Importance of encryption for an ecommerce
website
With
the help of a website certificate, communication between email client
and exchange server can be made more efficient. It must be noted that validity of
businesses is certified by ensuring legitimacy. SSL can be said to be a type of
website certificate as encryption
is an important part of security on websites. It is essentially aimed at
certifying that the user is legitimate.
