With cyber-crime on the rise, citizens are being urged to use safeguards for their websites, such as two-factor authentication. Google has been extremely proactive when it comes to avoiding cyber-crime; recently blackjacking webmasters into adding SSL certificates or HTTPS. SSL certificates are one of the best ways to keep your data safe and secure. So what exactly is a SSL certificate?
SSL certificates have two “keys”, one that’s private and one that’s public. The private key unlocks a connection, while the public key locks it. This gives your information an extra level of security, because a hacker would need BOTH randomly-generated keys in order to access this data.
If your site does not have a SSL certificate, visitors will be warned when they access your site that it is not secure. This makes users skeptical of providing their information; such as filling out a contact form, or especially when giving their credit card information to purchase a product. So when it comes to SSL certificates, how do you know which one to choose?
Different Types of SSL Certificates
There are a few different types of SSL certificates. However, they all have the same standard encryption methods, so they all provide the same amount of security. The difference is their requirements and distinct characteristics.
Single Domain
protects a single domain. Perfect for simple content-based sites.
Multi-Domain
protects multiple domains. Perfect for covering sites with multiple, similar domains.
Wildcard
covers all sub-domains on a single root domain. Perfect for eCommerce sites.
Organization
authenticates a company’s identity and information. Perfect for content-based sites that don’t need to secure payments.
Extended
verifies the domain and double checks the legal corporation. Perfect for any site.
Cyber-crime is growing rapidly. Making sure your site is safe with help your SEO with Google and also give your users peace of mind.