An SSL certificate is an essential component of a secure and trustworthy website. However, there are many fake or fraudulent SSL certificates in circulation, which can harm the security and credibility of your website. In this post, we’ll explore how to verify the authenticity of an SSL certificate.
- Check the Issuer: The first step to verifying the authenticity of an SSL certificate is to check the issuer. A legitimate SSL certificate will be issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA), such as Symantec, Comodo, or GlobalSign. You can verify the issuer by checking the SSL certificate information in your browser.
- Check the Website Address: The next step is to verify the website address. A legitimate SSL certificate will only be issued for the correct website address. For example, if you’re visiting “www.example.com,” the SSL certificate should be issued for “www.example.com” or “example.com.” If the SSL certificate is issued for a different website address, it may be fraudulent.
- Check the Padlock Icon: Another way to verify the authenticity of an SSL certificate is to check the padlock icon in your browser. A legitimate SSL certificate will display a padlock icon in the address bar, indicating that the connection is secure. If the padlock icon is not present or is broken, the SSL certificate may be fraudulent.
- Check the “https” Prefix: A legitimate SSL certificate will also cause the website address to start with “https” instead of “http.” This indicates that the connection is secure and encrypted. If the website address starts with “http,” it may not have a valid SSL certificate.
- Check the Certificate Information: You can also verify the authenticity of an SSL certificate by checking the certificate information in your browser. This information will include the issuer, the website address, and the expiration date of the certificate. If any of this information is incorrect, the SSL certificate may be fraudulent.
In conclusion, verifying the authenticity of an SSL certificate is an important step towards ensuring a secure and trustworthy online presence. By checking the issuer, website address, padlock icon, “https” prefix, and certificate information, you can ensure that your website’s SSL certificate is legitimate and secure. So, be sure to regularly verify the authenticity of your SSL certificate to protect your website and its visitors.