What is SSL?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security technology that is commonly used for encrypting communications between users and e-commerce websites, thereby securing server to browser transactions. The SSL protocol utilizes encryption to prevent eavesdropping and tampering of the transmitted data, and is used to secure information passed by a browser (such as a customer's credit card number or password) to a webserver (such as an online store).

SSL protects data submitted over the Internet from being intercepted and viewed by unintended recipients and is used by hundreds of thousands of websites in the protection of their online transactions with their customers, SSL is the de-facto industry standard Internet transaction security technology.

How do website visitors know if a website is using SSL?

When a website visitor connects to a webserver using SSL they will see that the URL in the address bar begins with https:// rather than the usual http:// and also a small gold padlock will appear in their browser, e.g.

Whenever a browser connects to a webserver (website) over https:// - this signifies that the communication will be encrypted and secure. The actual complexities of the SSL protocol remain invisible to the end customer. In summary, SSL is the de facto web transaction security technology and provides the ability to secure customers transactions transparently without the customer having to do a thing!

When should SSL be used and what can it secure?

There are two main online security problems that SSL certificates help solve:

• Authentication - proving a company's (or server's) identity online and in so doing create a sense of trust and confidence in using a Web site.

• Encryption - offering protection for the data submitted to a Web site (or between servers) so that in the event of interception, it will be unintelligible without the unique key used for decryption.

Solving these security problems allows online business to protect against the following scenarios:

• Spoofing - The low cost of Web site design and ease with which existing pages can be copied makes it all too easy to create illegitimate sites that appear to be published by established organizations. In fact, con artists have illegally obtained credit card numbers by setting up professional-looking storefronts that mimic legitimate businesses.

• Unauthorized Disclosure - when information is transmitted "in the clear", making it possible for hackers to intercept the transmissions and obtain sensitive information from customers.

• Data alteration - the content of a transaction can be intercepted and altered en route, either maliciously or accidentally. User names, credit card, and social security numbers as well as currency amounts; indeed any information sent "in the clear" is all vulnerable to alteration.

RapidSSL Certificates have a browser recognition of around 99% and are ideal for websites conducting low volume / low value ecommerce transactions. To add an SSL certificate to your ZingServe hosted website or dedicated server, simply open a ticket in your customer control panel or contact us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it