SSL
You may have noticed that many websites start with "https" instead of just "http". The little letter "s" stands for "security", and that's because of the SSL certificate! But what exactly is this mysterious certificate and why is it so important?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, which is a digital certificate used to create an encrypted connection between a browser and a website. This means that when you share sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details, your data is protected and encrypted. It makes it much harder for someone trying to steal your information and read it.
Let's say you visit an online store to buy something nice for yourself. If the online shop has an SSL certificate, you will see a small padlock icon next to the URL in your browser. When you enter your payment information, your data is encrypted before it is sent to the online shop. This means that even if someone tries to intercept or steal your information, they won't be able to read it because of the encryption.
An SSL certificate is also useful for verifying that the website you are visiting actually belongs to the organization you think it does. When a website receives an SSL certificate, a background check is also performed to verify that the website is owned by the real owner. This helps protect you from fraud or phishing attempts.
So the next time you visit a website and wonder if it's safe to share sensitive information, look for the padlock icon and "https" in the URL. This means that the website has an SSL certificate and takes your security seriously. With the SSL certificate, you can browse the web with a little more peace of mind, knowing that your information is safe and protected.