Browsers Starting to Warn Users When Accessing Sites w/o SSL/TLS
Perhaps you have already run into these warnings… and if not, it’s surely only a matter of time. Browsers like Chrome have slowly been increasing the visibility of non-SSL warnings, and in the very near future – browsers will immediately warn users when they access a non SSL/TLS site. Since 2015 Mozilla has announced its plans to phase out non-secure HTTP. No matter what kind of site you’re running, you certainly don’t want a visitor being greeted by an alarming warning saying that your site is unencrypted or potentially unsafe.
Google Gives an SEO Ranking Boost to Sites with SSL/TLS
Back in 2014,Google announced they were going to begin manufacturing a SSL into their ranking algorithm. Since then websites using SSL/TLS get as much as a 5% increase in visibility versus their unencrypted counterparts. The importance of SSL/TLS in search engines ranking is only expected to increase as Search Engines further push for an HTTPS in any environment.
Browsers Only Supporting HTTP/2 with Encrypted Sites
HTTP/2 – the second major version of the HTTP network protocol – has been ratified by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) and now is used in 18% of global traffic and is rapidly climbing.
The benefits of HTTP/2 are 20-30% decrease in page load time and an improved connection model, among many other advantages. It will soon be supported in all major browsers and if you want your customers to access your web site over HTTP/2, you’ll absolutely need to have HTTPS URLs because it’s mandatory by the IETF.
Gmail Now Warning Users When an Email is NOT Delivered Securely
Only a few months ago, Gmail added a new icon that displays if an email is NOT securely delivered with SSL/TLS. This goes beyond encrypting all domains and means that getting SSL for your mail server(s) is extremely important. We’re certain that other email providers will follow suit.
What is SSL?
SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, is a cyber-security protocol that digitally encrypts information sent from a browser to a server. SSL certificates are used to protect sensitive information like credit card numbers, usernames, passwords, email addresses, and more. A website with an SSL certificate is identified using a number of trust indicators, like “https” and the padlock icon in the browser bar, a site seal from a reputable Certificate Authority (CA), and a green bar that wraps around the URL on more premium certificates.
What is Domain Validated (DV) SSL Certificate?
A Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificate is a quick and easy way to secure a domain, as the Certificate Authority (CA) issuing the certificate only requires verification that the recipient actually owns the domain they wish to cover. This verification process can typically be completed in a matter of minutes. However, these certificates offer little in the way of SSL recognition, so they are recommended for websites where visitor trust is not of high importance and information like usernames, passwords, or credit card information is not required.
What is an Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate?
EV stands for Extended Validation and is the most premium type of SSL certificate available. These certificates are identified on websites mainly by the green address bar, the most universally recognized symbol of trust on the web. EV certificates are becoming more and more commonplace in the industry, especially amongst ecommerce sites, as they are used by some of the most trusted sites in the world like Bank of America, Twitter, Paypal, and more. These certificates require that a company complete a thorough vetting process before being issued.
How can i get a Green Address Bar for my website?
The only way to get the green address bar on your website is with an Extended Validation (EV) certificate. These are the only type of SSL certificate that come with the green address bar.
Can i qualify for an EV Certificate?
The main criteria for qualifier for an EV certificate would be that your business is an official company registered with a government authority. Also, if you’re a Sole Proprietor or a Partnership registered in the U.K., you cannot qualify for any EV SSL certificate.
What certificates offer www and non-www coverage?
Comodo offers coverage for www and non-www. As long as the certificate is generated with www as the common name, the non-www version will automatically be covered.
What is a Wildcard SSL certificate?
Wildcard SSL certificates can cover one main domain name (www.domain.com) and an unlimited amount of subdomains (mail.domain.com, login.domain.com, test.domain.com, etc.).
What is the SSL certificate warranty?
An SSL certificate warranty covers any damages that you may incur as a result of a data breach or hack that was caused due to a flaw in the certificate. The warranties range in value, which means that the higher value certificates come with more extensive warranties.