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Posted by admin on January 20th, 2009

…An SSL Certificate?

When you set up an ecommerce website you will need to purchase an SSL certificate, this is an extremely important part of any ecommerce website as it makes your site secure and will keep your buyers details from being stolen.

An SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate is the little yellow padlock you should see on any page where you are asked to enter your personal details. The padlock symbol is located either next to the address bar or depending on your browser on the bottom left or right of the status bar. If you are asked to enter your details and the site does not have the padlock symbol you are at risk of identity theft. Secure pages also start with https:// instead of http://

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that contains the domain name, owner details and physical location of the site owner. An SSL certificate is virtually impossible to hack and is a non forgeable proof of the websites identity.

To check a website is genuine, you can click on the padlock and it will display details including the website url, certificate issuer and certificate valid dates.

SSL certificates are domain specific, in other words you will need to purchase an SSL certificate for each individual ecommerce shop you create.

The SSL uses a third party site, a certificate authority (CA), to identify either one or both parties involved in a transaction.
Last years Royal Institution Christmas Lecture explained how an SSL certificate works; basically, when a buyer submits their details a number is generated (a key), it is sent to the third party site where the website details are checked to make sure they match with the certificate and the certificate is still valid, the site then creates a random number (a second key) generated from the original number which ‘unlocks’ the data and displays the information. Because only one key is viewable by everyone and the second key is hidden this makes it almost impossible to hack as both keys are needed to unlock the information and the SSL owner is the only person able to access both keys. Also, as the second key is randomly generated with each transaction, if a key is ever discovered it will not work the next time, so the site is still secure – clever heh?!

Whenever you enter any personal details online, whether it be for shopping or Internet banking, etc, you should always make sure the site is secure. It is estimated that the average UK shopper is worth £10,000 each if their details are stolen online. 58% of Internet users share their bank details with online retailers putting them at risk. 43% of online shoppers have or know someone that has experienced online fraud.*

One of the best ways to make sure buyers return to your website is to make sure it is secure. For more information about a Studio 2 Online ecommerce website, please call 0116 2758456.

Dani
Studio 2 Online
Ecommerce Web Site Designers Leicester

* source www.itpro.co.uk