Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol for enabling data encryption and site authentication on the Internet. Credit card numbers, health details and other sensitive information is transmitted only after being converted into a secure code. Domain authentication reassures site users that they're actually interacting with the site identified in the URL bar. Without SSL, online transactions would be vulnerable to interception by unauthorized parties. These hackers or identity thieves could also more easily imitate a legitimate website. SSL is most commonly used to protect communications between web browsers and servers. However, it is also used for server-to-server communications and for web-based applications.

A Wildcard SSL certificate provides the same encryption and authentication features as other SSL certificates. However, a Wildcard certificate can also be applied to unlimited subdomains of a site. Some sites utilize subdomains like blog.mysite.com. A Wildcard SSL certificate supports the root domain (mysite.com) as well as its subdomains.

Companies that issue SSL certificates are known as certificate authorities. The protection provided by an SSL certificate is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Web browsers like Firefox and Chrome maintain a list of trusted certificate authorities. If your site serves up one of these trusted certificates, the browser will recognize it as secure.

The Certificate Authority will confirm domain control by sending an email to the administrator listed with the registrar for the domain. If the authorized administrator does not reply, a second email will be sent to an email address at the domain such as info@ or support@. (You may select a secondary email address during the enrollment process.) In addition to validation by email, you will be asked to provide a telephone number where you can be reached immediately after submitting your enrollment. If everything checks out, the SSL certificate is issued.

Encryption is a mathematical process of coding and decoding information in order to keep data secure while traveling between computers. If raw, unencrypted data is sent, anyone who intercepts the information can easily understand it. The number of bits (40-bit, 56-bit, 128-bit, 256-bit) tells you the size of the key. Like a longer password, a larger key has more possible combinations. When an encrypted session is established, the encryption level is determined by the capability of the web browser, SSL certificate, web server, and client computer operating system.

When a browser connects to a secure site it retrieves its SSL certificate and checks that it has not expired, that it has been issued by a certificate authority the browser trusts, and that it is being used by the website for which it has been issued. If it fails on any one of these checks the browser will display a warning to the end user. If it succeeds, several security indicators are built into modern browsers to indicate that SSL is enabled.

1) The beginning of the URL or web address changes from https:// to https://

2) A padlock on the browser window changes from open to closed

3) The address bar will turn green and display the name of the website owner when connecting to a website protected by an Extended Validation SSL certificate.

In addition, a trust mark such as the RapidSSL site seal may be added to web pages on a secure site.

A CSR is a public key that you generate on your server according to your server software instructions. If you do not have access to your server, your web host or internet service provider will generate it for you. The CSR is required during the SSL certificate enrollment process because it validates the specific information about your web server and your organization.

Web and Email Support included by RapidSSL/GeoTrust.

GeoTrust Offers a Free 30 Day Trial of its SSL Certificates. RapidSSL offers a free 30-day money back guarantee.

Most Certificates are issued in munutes.

Debit/Credit Card (PayPal) & Mail-In Payment.

RapidSSL offers a free 30-day money back guarantee.