TSL & SSL Secured: Everything You Need to Know.
What does TLS, or SSL Secured mean? Should my website be secure? How do I Know if my site is secure?
SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, is a protocol that ensures a secure and encrypted communication between a user's web browser and a website's server. It is now more commonly referred to as its successor, Transport Layer Security (TLS). When a website uses SSL/TLS, the data exchanged between the user's browser and the website's server is encrypted, making it more difficult for malicious actors to intercept and tamper with the data.
Here's why having a secure website is important:
Data Encryption: SSL/TLS encrypts the data transmitted between the user and the server. This means that even if someone intercepts the communication, they won't be able to easily decipher the information being exchanged.
Trust and Credibility: Users are more likely to trust a website that is secure. When a website has SSL/TLS, a padlock icon appears in the address bar, indicating to users that the connection is secure. This can build trust and credibility with your visitors.
SEO Benefits: Search engines like Google give preference to secure websites in search rankings. Having SSL/TLS can positively impact your website's search engine optimization (SEO) and make it more discoverable.
To check if a website is secure, look for the following indicators:
URL: A secure website will have "https://" at the beginning of its URL instead of "http://". The "s" stands for secure.
Padlock Icon: Most browsers display a padlock icon in the address bar to indicate that the website is secure. Clicking on the padlock icon may provide additional information about the site's security status.
SSL Certificate Details: You can view the details of the SSL certificate by clicking on the padlock icon and selecting "Certificate" or "View certificate" from the dropdown menu. This will show you information about the certificate and the entity it was issued to.
Green Address Bar: Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates may turn the address bar green, providing a visual cue of a high level of security.
If your website is not secure, you can obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) and configure it on your web server. Many web hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through services like Let's Encrypt. Additionally, some hosting providers may offer automatic SSL certificate installation as part of their services.
