© 2019 Linda Fulkerson
Do author websites need an SSL Certificate?
The short answer is yes, but it’s important to understand what an SSL Certificate does and why it’s vital to have one.
What is an SSL Certificate and what does it do?
Websites constantly transfer data. This data can include scripts required for plug-ins to function, theme and platform updates, and blog comments or contact form submissions. Many website owners don’t realize this data transfer process isn’t direct. The information bumps along other locations to and from the journey between your website and its server, making it vulnerable.
When data transfers contain “personally identifiable information,” such as the name and/or email address of someone posting a comment or submitting a form, that information is at risk of being harvested by hackers. This is where SSL (Secured Sockets Layer) comes in.
A Secured Sockets Layer is the standard encryption technology linking a website, its server, and an Internet browser. SSL Certificates create an encrypted connection verified by a trusted third-party issuer called a Certificate Authority (CA).
How does an SSL Certificate work?
The process of encryption is called an “SSL Handshake.” SSL Certificates are comprised of private and public keys. When someone visits an SSL protected website, the Internet browser (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) requests an identification from the server. The server responds by submitting its SSL Certificate, including the public key. The browser verifies the Certificate to ensure it isn’t expired and that it’s been issued by a trusted Certificate Authority.
Using the public key, the browser responds with an encrypted session key. The server uses the private key to decrypt the session key and launches an encrypted session. Once the handshake process is complete, the server and browser continue to communicate via the encrypted session. This process is practically instantaneously.
Why do you need an SSL Certificate?
The top three reasons are:
- To protect personally identifiable information (yours and that of your visitors) from potential hackers.
- To build trust and maintain a good online reputation. SSL protected sites are identified with a green padlock in the browser and begin with the protocol HTTPS.
- To gain authority with search engines. Google launched its “HTTPS Everywhere” initiative in 2014. The search engine results pages grant more authority to secured sites.
If your website doesn’t have an SSL Certificate, contact your webmaster or your website’s hosting service to request one.
ED. NOTE: As a special treat for our newsletter subscribers, Linda is offering her latest book, Dead Broke, on Kindle FREE for three days only, Oct. 1-3. Visit Amazon to download your copy!
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Linda Fulkerson became interested in writing while working as a copyeditor at a small-town newspaper. She has been published in several magazines and newspapers, including a two-year stint as a sports writer. Linda is the author of two novels and seven non-fiction books. She speaks to writers’ groups on a variety of marketing-related topics, including blogging, social media, and website development. Visit Linda’s website to get a free video course, “Fifteen Must-haves for Author Websites.”
