Over the past 7 years, consumer magazines, industry bodies and security providers have educated the market on the basics of online security. The majority of consumers now expect security to be integrated into any online service they use, as a result they expect any details they provide via the Internet to remain confidential and integral. For many customers, the only time they will ever consider buying your products or services online is when they are satisfied their details are secure.

This SSL guide explains how to use SSL from Instantssl to activate the core security technology available on your existing web server. You will also learn how Instant SSL allows you to protect your customer’s transactions and provide visitors with proof of your digital identity - essential factors in gaining confidence in your services and identity.

Using Instant SSL to secure your online transactions tells your customers you take their security seriously. They will visibly see that their online transaction will be secure, confidential and integral and give them the confidence that you have removed the risk associated with trading over the Internet.

Using Security helps you realize the benefits of online commerce:

• Cost effectiveness of online operations and delivery
• Open global markets - gain customers from all over the world
• New and exciting ways of marketing directly to your customers
• Offer new data products and services via the Web

Only if you have visibly secured your site with SSL security technology (https) will your customers have confidence in your online operations. Read on to learn how SSL helps you achieve the confidence essential to successful e-commerce.

What is SSL?

Secure Sockets Layer, SSL, is the standard security technology for creating an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browser remain private and integral. SSL is an industry standard and is used by millions of websites in the protection of their online transactions with their customers. In order to be able to generate an SSL link, a web server requires an SSL Certificate.

When you choose to activate SSL on your webserver you will be prompted to complete a number of questions about the identity of your website (e.g. your website’s URL) and your company (e.g. your company’s name and location). Your webserver then creates two cryptographic keys - a Private Key and a Public Key. Your Private Key is so called for a reason - it must remain private and secure. The Public Key does not need to be secret and is placed into a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) - a data file also containing your details. You should then submit the CSR during the SSL Certificate application process Comodo, the Instant SSL Certification Authority, who will validate your details and issue an SSL Certificate containing your details and allowing you to use SSL.

Your webserver will match your issued SSL Certificate to your Private Key. Your webserver will then be able to establish an encrypted link between the website and your customer’s web browser.

For detailed application and installation instructions please refer to section “Step by step instructions to set up SSL on your webserver” of this guide.

Displaying the SSL Secure Padlock

The complexities of the SSL protocol remain invisible to your customers. Instead their browsers provide them with a key indicator to let them know they are currently protected by an SSL encrypted session - the Padlock:

As seen by users of Internet Explorer
Clicking on the Padlock displays your SSL Certificate and your details:
As seen by users of Internet Explorer

All SSL Certificates are issued to either companies or legally accountable individuals. Typically an SSL Certificate will contain your domain name, your company name, your address, your city, your state and your country. It will also contain the expiry date of the Certificate and details of the Certification Authority responsible for the issuance of the Certificate.

When a browser connects to a secure site (https) it will retrieve the site’s SSL Certificate and check that it has not expired, it has been issued by a Certification Authority the browser trusts, and that it is being used by the website for which it has been issued. If it fails on any one of these checks the browser will display a warning to the end user.

Why Should You Use an SSL Certificate?

Comodo, the Certification Authority behind InstantSSL, is the fastest growing SSL Provider in the world. Unlike other Certification Authorities, Comodo does not just provide SSL Certificates - they are a world-renowned security and cryptography service provider. When you are a customer of Comodo, you can feel safe knowing that your website security is provided by experts.

Instant SSL Certificates are the most cost-effective fully validated and fully supported 128 bit SSL Certificates you can buy today! You can contact the technical support team between 3am- 7pm EST (soon to be 24 hours). You can also feel safe in the knowledge that Comodo will validate your application in accordance with the latest digital signature legislation pertaining to Qualified Certificates. This validation is done effectively and quickly, ensuring you need not wait the traditional 3 working days normally associated with a fully validated SSL Certificate.

InstantSSL boasts industry leading browser ubiquity - comparable to Verisign and Thawte, however without the costs associated with other SSL Providers. Instant SSL Certificates are compatible with over 99% of browsers - including Internet Explorer 5.00 and above, Netscape 4.5 and above, AOL 6 and above and Opera 5.00 and above.

InstantSSL benefits summary:

InstantSSL Certificates are the most cost effective SSL Certificates you can buy which include:

• Full validation conducted quickly - in many cases you can expect your SSL Certificate to be issued within minutes
• Telephone, email, web support available 3am - 7pm EST
• Over 99% browser compatibility
• 128 bit strong encryption security
• Backed by warranties ranging from $10,000 to $250,000

InstantSSL Certificates provide you with the key to successfully using SSL on your webserver.

Testing your Webserver Before you Buy -
Try an SSL Certificate for Free

Trial SSL Certificates provide full SSL functionality for 30 days and are fully supported by our expert technical support staff. Unlike test Certificates from other CAs, Instant SSL trial Certificates are issued using the same Trusted Root CA that issues our end-entity SSL Certificates and provides 99% browser ubiquity, and NOT by a different test CA. This unique service helps you fully test your system prior to your live roll out.

Trial SSL Certificates are ideal for anyone requiring proof of ease of installation, confirmation of high quality technical support and also confirmation of compatibility with the majority of the browsers that exist today. Trial SSL Certificates are also ideal for practicing with Certificates and learning about SSL implementation before committing to installing a Certificate on your live system.
Get your free 30 day trial SSL Certificate

The Internet is a revolutionary medium for you to improve your sales and online services for customers. Instant SSL is the perfect solution to securing your webserver with SSL quickly, easily and cost-effectively.

Your seal appears in 300+ Shopping sites

You stand out as a trustworthy merchant when your HACKER SAFE seal appears directly in comparison listings.

You attract more customers

Tests show an average of over 10% more clicks and over 15% higher overall sales. Your site starts converting more shoppers to buyers with HACKER SAFE. Trust is a Must The only way to compete on a non-price basis is to establish trust. It’s not the lowest price, but the highest trust that often wins the customer.

You stand out in comparison pages

Displaying the well known HACKER SAFE endorsement prominently in product comparison pages is proven to increase sales buy bridging the trust gap.

Build the Trust that Builds Your Business

No matter how big your brand is, or how good your pricing is, shoppers want to know you’re a trustworthy and safe place to shop. It’s that simple! Concerned about costs? Don’t worry - HACKER SAFE certification doesn’t cost you a thing. It makes you money

Quick return on investment

HACKER SAFE certification makes an immediate increase in your sales. It often pays for itself in a matter of days.

Unlimited products–Unlimited clicks

Annual subscription provides one low price on over 300 shopping sites. Enjoy unlimited product listings and no per-click charge across all sites.

Unlimited websites - Unlimited security scanning

Flexible pricing based on total average website page views. An unlimited number of websites and domain names are covered in your subscription. Providing information about a merchants security will help online shoppers make more informed decisions.”

Security information helps online shoppers make more informed and trusted buying decisions.”

2) Private Customer information (credit cards, S.S. Numbers, financials, etc.) will not be kept on file for more than 60 days. (If a company requires more than 60 days, they must receive special approval from Trust Guard.)

3) Customer will not receive any continual email solicitation from the company, unless the customer consents to the solicitation at checkout, or through a double opt-in process. And, if the customer does consent to receive email from the company, the company agrees to have a simple unsubscribe option available, along with unsubscribe instructions in every email.

Email Verification - An email is sent and received to in order to confirm the companies support email address.

Phone Verification - A phone call is placed to confirm the companies phone number.

Visit Trust Guard or read our Trust Guard Review and see how putting these seals on customers website increases conversions as much as 4 times!

Hacker Safe Certified: When you display the McAfee Secure certification mark, you not only increase sales by increasing shopper confidence, you build your brand with the security seal seen on more top sites than any other.

Comodo Hacker Proof: Continually Innovating Internet Trust — Comodo continues to innovate ways to build trust and security on the Internet. Comodo’s groundbreaking, cutting-edge developments continue to be released regularly, providing more value to the Internet community.

Most cost effective fully validated and full supported SSL Certificates available. As trusted as Verisign & Thawte, yet a fraction of the price and 99% browser ubiquity.

There are three great security programs out there, Hacker Safe, Comodo and Trust Guard, that will not only protect your site but will also give you the peace of mind knowing that your information and your customers information is safe. Your customers trust that your site is secure. If you don’t have the right protection, you may end up loosing more than just a few sales. By showing them the security seal, you are ensuring safe shopping.

So, you may be asking yourself which is the right one for your company. Well to be honest, that depends on your company’s needs and expectations. Just like home security your online security is going to be based on you your individual demands.

In the next few articles I will give an in-depth review of each of these programs so that you can make an informed decision.

Securing your online site is just as, if not even more important as securing your home and car. Your customers depend on you to provide them with a safe site; you owe it to them to deliver security. In the end, the security program will pay for itself.

Trust Guard has a great system of letting your customers know exactly how secure your website is. It also lets you cater to your company’s needs. You can purchase the business seal which verifies your company’s information. The Privacy Seal ensures that you will not only, not sell their information, but you will also get rid of all of their personal information before the 60 day deadline. If you are tired of ordering from websites only to be bombarded with their emails for the rest of your life, look for the Trust Guard Privacy Seal.

The last requirement is they won’t email you unless you give them consent. To show the world that your site is up to date with SSL certification, Trust Guard has a Security Verified Seal. If you have an awesome website and you want to let your customers know, check out the Trust Guard Certification Seal. It lets everyone know that you have been verified with all the above information.

If this sounds like a security seal you would like to have on your website, look into the Trust Guard Review.

Trust Guard is great because it shows your customers exactly how much security you have. It doesn’t matter if you have a small business or a large one, having the Trust Guard seal lets your customers know you care about security.

If a company would like to have the TrustLogo seal on their page they have to verify all of their business information. If that seal is the SSL Certification seal, it means that not only has the companies’ information been verified, but the security certification is also up to date. If you are worried about your information look for the SSL Certification Seal. You may be asking what sets Comodo apart from the other security seals.

Comondo has a really great feature called Real Time Verification of website identity. By placing their pointing device over the Trustlogo seal, the customer will get an up to the second, real time identity assurance. It lets your customers know that all of your information is accurate in real time.

This can be immeasurable assurance for you customers. There are a few other features that TrustLogo has including Third Party Validation, Extended Site Credentials, and unlimited verification of your site.

If you are in the market for a security seal, check out the review for TrustLogo by Comodo. It may be the right system for your site. Comodo’s other hacker proof seal guarantees that your online sales conversion rate goes up 5% or more or it is free to use.

Whenever you are shopping online look for the TrustLogo seal. It ensures that the site you are purchasing from is both safe and secure.

That little seal you see at the bottom of websites is actually a symbol to ensure peace of mind.

These seals verify that the companies who website you are purchasing from are safe and secure. Hacker Safe offers users a six step security system which includes a Vulnerability Audit, Dynamic Port Scanning, Port-level Network Vulnerability Scan, Web Application Vulnerability Test. After all the test and scans are complete, Hacker Safe will not only alert you but will remedy the situation. These scans take place every 24 hours. The Hacker Safe certification will only allow the Hacker Safe symbol to appear on a website when it has a met the standards within the last 24 hours. That’s right. Every 24 hour the website goes through a rigorous verification processes. If you are a company looking to purchase a security seal, check out the reviews on Hacker Safe. It is a great way to show your customers you care about their information and increase online sales.

The reason that this symbol is implanted in on the website is to show the customer, that their site is safe to use.