SSL certificate
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that verifies the authenticity of a website and encrypts the data sent between the website and the visitor’s browser. When a website has an SSL certificate installed, the URL will begin with “https://” instead of “http://”, and a padlock icon will appear in the address bar.
The SSL certificate is issued by a trusted third-party organization called a Certificate Authority (CA), and it contains the website owner’s identity information and a public key. When a visitor connects to a website with an SSL certificate, their browser uses the public key to encrypt data sent to the website. The website’s server then uses a private key, which is stored securely on the server, to decrypt the data.
SSL certificates help to ensure that sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or login credentials, is transmitted securely and cannot be intercepted by unauthorized parties. They are important for any website that collects or transmits sensitive information and are required by many payment processors and regulatory bodies.