In development countries, more shopping is done online than conventionally. Most of us have purchased railway tickets or air tickets on the net or paid our bills without a glitch. For those who cannot shop abroad, buying things that are made abroad has become easy using the internet. But the chance of things going wrong and data related to credit cards being stolen is very real. Every now and then we hear about phishing by cyber thieves resulting in loss of money for individuals.
New Weapon to Fight Cyber Squatters
Businesses that function online do not want to lose customers who may have reservations about using their credit cards. The latest weapon in the security armoury is secure SSL or Secure Sockets Layer. This is an internet protocol that encrypts online transactions. This ensures security and keeps data safe during transactions that take place over the net.
The coding and decoding is incorporated via the use of two keys. They are referred to as the public key and the private key. The private key can be accessed only by the website owner and the public key is used by all visitors to the site.
The Way It Works
Individuals who illegally break into sites to siphon off data are called cyber squatters. This encryption using server certificate makes it impossible to extract sensitive information from sites. This is the way it happens. When a visitor fills in sensitive information like bank details or credit card number, sites that are protected by web certificate generates a cryptographic key.
As soon as the browser tries to connect to the web server it is sent a request to check whether the site is protected by secure SSL. In response, the server transmits a facsimile of the server certificate to the web browser for checking. The browser now has to approve the web certificate. If the browser verifies the web certificate, it messages the server. When no accreditation is sent, the browser alerts the user who can choose to ignore the warning and go ahead or the attempt can be aborted. The onus thus rests on the user to make a correct decision.
SSL and certificates have clear functions to make the web more secure. Most of the SSL and certificates that now exist in the industry have uniform features but it is a good idea to review them before deciding which ones suits a particular site. The first function is web browser authentication. The main web browsers should be able to read the SSL Certificates.
If the browser keeps rejecting the SSL, it is going to create doubt in the minds of users of the safety of the website. The best choice for buyers is the encryption of 128/256 bit. Most certificates are of this level. The issuing of SSL should be done very fast so that customer service is good. Get to know the details regarding the policy regarding cancellations and guarantees.
Before choosing a particular SSL, make sure you are assured of technical support and you can email for assistance. The company should be available on phone and chat round the clock. Installing a SSL or Secure Sockets Layer can do a lot for your business.