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In order to make shopping in online stores as safe as possible connection of the user's computer with the server is securely protected. It helps to ensure the confidentiality of the customers' personal information. Such protection is ensured due to the SSL protocol. What is the SSL protocol? How does it work?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a cryptographic protocol which is responsible for security of connection between the user's computer and the server. The SSL protocol transfers data in the encrypted form, therefore if the receiving party does not have a special decryption key it will not be able to receive this information. The use of the SSL protocol in the sphere of online trading is a reliable way to protect personal information.
The SSL protocol was developed by Netscape Communications Corporation. This company is known to the wide audience thanks to its web browser – Netscape. Today this protocol is supported by all browsers “by default”. The SSL protocol is usually used for identification of the server, but it may also be used for identification of the end user.
In order to use the SSL protocol for secure transfer of information between the user's computer and the server you should install an SSL certificate on the server. An SSL certificate is a digital document that confirms the information about the SSL key owner.
The purchase of an SSL certificate is a necessary step for websites which have to interact with users' personal information that requires complete confidentiality. In this case the use of an SSL certificate guarantees that transferred data cannot be intercepted by non-authorized persons. SSL certificates are issued to companies in special certification centers – independent companies that have the right to certification.
An SSL certificate consists of a public key and identification information of the company that own the certificate. This information should be attested by an authorized center. A private key is connected with the public one, it is stored separately from the SSL certificate. During the identification the owner of the SSL certificate provides his private key which corresponds to the public key in order to prove the authenticity of his information.
Why are the SSL protocol and SSL certificate so important in the work of online stores? First of all, the customers have to be sure that their personal information will not get into the wrong hands. The SSL protocol guarantees that all information will be used according to its intended purpose. Besides, the customers are more inclined to give credence to companies which already have recommendations provided by trustworthy companies. An SSL certificate attests that the site belongs to a certain company and thus guarantees that the company really is what it claims to be.
Where can you purchase an SSL certificate and how to install it on the server? In order to buy an SSL certificate you should contact one of official certification centers and effect a corresponding application. The applicant may be required to provide copies of some documents such as current accounts of the company or the lease contract – in a word, all documents which explicitly contain the address of the company. The certification center will compare the claimed information about the company with the real one and confirm the authenticity of this information.
The installation of an SSL certificate is performed by the administrator of the web server that hosts the site which is going to use this certificate. The installation depends on the software installed on the server therefore it will be individual in every particular case.
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