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What is SSL encryption?

SSL encryption is a process of transforming data to make it unreadable by anyone except the intended recipient. It is used to protect information transmitted over networks, such as the Internet. SSL is short for Secure Sockets Layer, a protocol developed by Netscape for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL uses a cryptographic system that uses two keys to encrypt data − a public key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient.





What is Secure Sockets Layer encryption?

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol that provides security for communication over the Internet. SSL encrypts data to protect it from eavesdropping and tampering, and it also authenticates the identity of websites to ensure that users are communicating with the site they intend to. When you visit a website, your browser first establishes a secure connection with the server. This connection is indicated by the https:// in the address bar and a padlock icon. Once the connection is established, all communications between your browser and the server are encrypted, making it much more difficult for third parties to intercept or tamper with your data. To learn more about SSL encryption, please see our article What is SSL encryption?

TLS vs SSL

TLS (Transport Layer Security) and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) are both protocols that provide data encryption and authentication. SSL is the older protocol, while TLS is the newer and more secure option. Both protocols use a system of public and private keys to encrypt communications, but TLS is more efficient and provides more features than SSL.

What is SSL/TLS certification?

SSL/TLS certification is a process that verifies that a website is secure and can be trusted. This verification is done by issuing a digital certificate to the website owner. The certificate contains information about the website, such as its domain name, company name, and contact information. It also contains a public key that can be used to encrypt communications with the website.

Types of SSL certification and validation

There are three types of SSL certification and validation: Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validated (OV), and Extended Validation (EV). Domain Validation is the most common type of SSL certificate. DV certificates only verify that you own the domain name, not that your organization is legitimate. OV and EV certificates both verify ownership of the domain name and also confirm your organization’s identity. Extended Validation is the highest level of SSL certification available. EV certificates require a more thorough vetting process by the Certificate Authority in order to verify both the legitimacy of your organization and your domain ownership.

SSL/TLS validation levels

There are three main types of SSL/TLS validation: Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV), and Extended Validation (EV). Domain Validation is the most basic form of SSL/TLS validation. In order to obtain a DV SSL Certificate, the Certificate Authority (CA) will verify that the applicant has control over the domain name. The CA does this by sending an email to one of several pre-determined addresses at the target domain (e.g. admin@example.com, hostmaster@example.com, etc.), and requiring the applicant to respond with a unique code. Once the CA has verified that the applicant has control over the domain, they will issue the certificate. Organization Validation is a more thorough form of verification than DV. In order to obtain an OV SSL Certificate, the CA will not only verify that the applicant has control over the domain name, but will also verify that the organization is a legitimate business or entity. The CA does this by verifying information such as the business's physical address, phone number, and existence in public records databases. Once the CA is satisfied that the organization is legitimate, they will issue the certificate. Extended Validation is currently the highest level of SSL/TLS validation available. In order to obtain an EV SSL Certificate, the CA will again verify both that the applicant has control over the domain name and that they are a legitimate business.

How do you get SSL/TLS certification?

To get an SSL/TLS certificate, you need to generate a CSR (certificate signing request) and then submit it to a CA (certificate authority). The CA will then issue you a certificate, which you can install on your web server.

Should I use a VPN with SSL/TLS?

There are a number of reasons to use a VPN with SSL/TLS encryption. First, it can help protect your privacy by keeping your communications encrypted and hidden from third-party snooping. Second, it can help improve security by preventing man-in-the-middle attacks. Finally, it can provide access to restricted websites and content. However, there are also some potential downsides to using a VPN with SSL/TLS encryption. First, it can slow down your internet connection due to the extra overhead of encrypting and decrypting your data. Second, it can be more difficult to troubleshoot issues if something goes wrong. Finally, some VPN providers may keep logs of your activity, which could potentially be accessed by authorities. Ultimately, whether or not you should use a VPN with SSL/TLS encryption depends on your specific needs and risks. If you're concerned about privacy or security, then using a VPN with SSL/TLS encryption is a good idea. However, if you're more concerned about speed or ease of use, then you might want to consider other options.

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