It’s important to read the label, whether buying food or reading the fine print on a website. SSL certificates are no exception. Knowing how to check SSL certificates is key to keeping your site and visitors safe from cyber threats. This article will walk you through viewing SSL certificate details in all major browsers.
Look for the Site’s Name
As cyber threats and identity theft increase, consumers are growing more hesitant to share personal information on websites that don’t use SSL. 85% of internet users will feel more confident entering their information on sites with an SSL certificate. But how do I check my SSL certificate? Fortunately, it’s easy to find out in all major browsers.
All SSL certificates contain verified identification information to help users confirm that they communicate with the website owner, not a malicious actor. These identification details include the domain name of the site, its verified business name, and in some cases, the organization’s country of origin. In some browsers, a green address bar and the trusted Thawte Trusted Site Seal will display even more identifying information to give users confidence that they are on a secure website. To check an SSL Certificate, look for the padlock icon in your browser’s URL bar. If the padlock is closed and the site’s name is listed under Certificate info, your site has an SSL certificate. Click the arrow next to the padlock for more information about the SSL Certificate. The certificate will include all necessary information, including its validity period, intended uses and who issued it.
Look for the Padlock Icon
If the website you’re on has an SSL certificate installed, your browser will display a padlock icon. The exact format varies between browsers, but the principle is the same: click the padlock icon to open the certificate dialog box and get all the relevant information you need. Besides encrypting web traffic, an SSL certificate authenticates a site’s identity. It allows browsers to verify that the site’s owner is who they say they are — not some crook trying to steal your credit card number or login details. SSL certificates are thus essential for building trust and providing a secure environment to do business online.
To get an SSL certificate, a site’s owner must present various documents that prove they exist and have the right to use the domain name in question. Some of these are strictly IT-related, while others are about the company’s physical location and the authority of its representatives to represent the organization. The exact verification processes vary between different certificate authorities. Still, all have one thing in common: they must meet high standards to be trusted by the major web browsers and other security systems. If a certificate is invalid or expired, browsers will flag the website as insecure and refuse to connect over an encrypted connection.
Look for the Green Address Bar
If you are a website owner, you may have noticed that the green address bar that used to be part of SSL certificates no longer exists. Because web browsers are constantly evolving, they have had to change how they display SSL trust indicators. The green address bar was a premium feature with Extended Validation (EV) certificates. It showed a company name in the address bar and instantly helped build trust for websites. Therefore, EV certificates require a rigorous validation process and are more expensive than regular SSL certificates. However, they offer the highest level of security and provide a great way to help you stand out online and increase visitor conversions.
Another way to check for an SSL certificate is by looking for a padlock icon in the URL bar of your website. It is usually a good indication that your website is secure and that all data passed between the browser and server is encrypted.
Look for the Trust Indicator
It’s sometimes important to read the label when shopping at the supermarket or before gulping down half a dozen pills. The same is true on the Internet, especially regarding websites that handle sensitive information like credit cards or bank account numbers. Consumers want to know if their data is protected and whether they can trust the site, and they look for security indicators such as SSL certificates. The good news is that there are several ways to check whether a website has an SSL certificate. In addition to the padlock icon and green address bar that shows a website uses secure connections, SSL certificates can also display other trust indicators. These include a company name or organization information in the URL, a trusted logo or badge on the page, and other indicators that the site has undergone authentication and encryption processes.
However, a website may display these trust indicators only for a few reasons. These can range from an improperly installed certificate to a faulty or expired one. The easiest way to diagnose these issues is with an online SSL tool from Fortinet. These tools can provide details on the SSL certificate, such as its IP address, expiration date, issuer and other important information. They can help website owners identify errors and make corrections to ensure their sites are properly secured.
Comments are closed.