What is SSL?
Secure Sockets Layer or SSL is a security protocol originally created by Netscape that has become an international standard for exchanging sensitive information on the Internet. The sensitive information is usually sent between a website and the ‘client’ computer communicating with it.
The standard known as SSL is built in to all popular browsers, and we don’t even notice it engage itself automatically when a user connects to a web server that is an SSL web server. It’s incredibly easy to notice when a server is using SSL security because the web address in the web address field of your browser will start with https://. The ‘s’ is a sign of the Secure connection. There is usually a yellow padlock that appears somewhere in the web browser window.
A browser automatically asks the server for a digital Certificate of Authority (CA) when it connects to an SSL server. This digital certificate authenticates the server’s identity to make sure you are not sending sensitive data to a hacker site. The CA is issued by an authorised body that ensures the owners of the website are legitimate by performing a number of checks against them. The browser also makes sure the web address or domain name of the site matches the domain name on the CA. You will not even be aware of this handshake taking place as it happens seamlessly unless there is an issue to report to the client.
If there is a problem with the CA, even if it is only out of date, your web browser will inform you of the exact problem and allow you to quit the website or continue at your own risk.