SSL: Site Security And Privacy

Netscape began using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) in 1994 as a means of sending sensitive data over the web. The newer edition of the service is called Transport Layer Security (TLS), although even this is routinely known by the SSL designation.

Before the introduction of SSL it was difficult to ensure privacy over the web in online transactions. There was a general distrust of the ability to conduct online transactions and a fear that an individual?s credit card information could be picked up by a third party and used for unauthorized purchases.

What makes SSL unique is an encryption technique that sends credit card and other personal data through the web. This encryption technique makes the information totally useless to anyone who does not have decoding abilities. If a third party were to intercept the information it would be useless to them.

The use of SSL Digital Certificates also provides a unique level of trust because a certificate verifies the users authenticity. This is an important step in instilling trust in potential customers. Many savvy consumers will avoid an online retailer entirely if they do not use SSL.

Without the proper use of SSL, information such as credit card numbers, third parties with less than positive motivations could obtain passwords and personal identification numbers.

A 128-bit key that is harder to break and typically protects personal account information than the 40-bit key. If your name and address is all that is being protected a 40-bit key may be used; the higher bit the key, the greater level of encryption. Most financial institutions only use 128-but keys for the security of their client?s data.

As an online marketer you will likely be asking your visitors for personal data. Don?t be surprised if your potential customer determines their willingness to do business with you based on the security of your website. Many customers will look for the SSL symbol and will move along if the don?t find it. SSL use can also be recognized by a lock symbol in the lower right hand corner of your browser window. If the symbol is unlocked then SSL is not in use on the site.

SSL should be enacted on pages requiring a password or might contain personal data most clients would like to keep private. Some sites will place SSL on some pages and forget other pages that are equally as sensitive. For the sake of your personal experience with ecommerce you should implement SSL protocol.

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Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. HighPowerSites is the easiest do-it-yourself website builder on the web. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with http://HighPowerSites.com at: http://www.highpowersites.com

Web Hosting Basics - Extended Validation SSL Certificates

In 2005, a group of leading certification authorities (CAs) and Internet browsers came together to establish a more rigorous and harmonized approach to online SSL security.

Known as the CA/Browser Forum, the group decided a standardized Secure Socket Layer (SSL) method was needed, to prove a website?s authenticity across all browsers, for all CAs and for all Web users. In January 2007, new Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates were at last released worldwide, and are expected to greatly enhance eCommerce and boost the confidence of online shoppers everywhere.

Wayne Thayer, Vice President of Development for GoDaddy ? a world leading SSL Web hosting provider, domain registrar and major member of the CA/Browser Forum ? told TopHosts that the aim of EV SSL is to provide a much needed, unvarying way of ensuring legitimacy online.

?There were a number of major players that felt we needed to create some sort of standard we could bring to the marketplace,? Thayer said. ?A certificate that meant the same thing no matter where you bought it from.?

Up until the launch of EV SSL, Thayer explained many differing levels of SSL certificates could be obtained, but none really going beyond WebTrust ? a seal awarded to sites that adhere to certain business standards. Many different types of SSLs, like GoDaddy?s Turbo SSL and High-Assurance SSL, for example, provide great protection and online assurance, but may not abide by the same rules and regulations of other CAs and Web hosting providers. There is simply no uniformity among them, and they don?t address growing concerns regarding phishing, a form of Internet fraud that aims to steal valuable information such as credit cards, SSNs, IDs and passwords, through fake websites.

With EV SSLs, all CAs must adhere to the same security standards when processing certificate requests, while visitors to EV SSL-secured sites can trust that the online organization has undergone the same universal authentication process.

?The EV vetting process creates a very strong tie between the organization that is named in the certificate and the actual real world organization,? Thayer said. ?? EV SSL has a number of additional steps that make it much more difficult for fraudsters to perform phishing and pretend they?re something they?re not.?

The CA/Browser forum outlines a new EV SSL vetting process, which validates elements such as, the legal existence of the site, the legal name of the entity, a registration number, right to use the domain name, along with other legal indications. To apply for an EV SSL, the business must present a letter from an attorney or an accountant. The process verifies the organization?s identity, the validity of the request and the overall legitimacy of the business.

Unlike the standard padlock icon method used for all other SSL certificates, browsers with EV support will display a green address bar and a special label, which names the website owner and the CA that issued their certificate. This visual tool is especially useful for domains considered to be a high-risk target of phishing and other fraud schemes. Banking sites, auction sites, retailers and other financial services can better communicate their legitimacy to users, allowing visitors to confirm that any online information they volunteer is safe and protected by EV.

Currently, only Internet Explorer 7 and Opera 8 browsers are EV-ready and support the new visual indicators. Mozilla and Safari are known to be committed to supporting the concept of EV, with Firefox expected to implement it in their version-3 release.

So far, Thayer says adoption of EV SSL has been slow, but exactly what was expected. Larger eCommerce sites are taking to it more quickly, as they recognize its potential for combating phishing. But it might take longer for it to take off within the smaller business community.

Currently, the standard requires companies to be incorporated to qualify for EV, which severely limits adoption by smaller entities wanting the universal assurance EV SSLs offer. Thayer explained the difficulty behind implementation of EV SSL with smaller businesses, as they don?t maintain the same official documentation corporations do.

Instead, smaller businesses identify themselves through mainly state-level and local files, making it harder to apply them to the universal EV SSL approach. But Thayer says GoDaddy and the CA/Browser forum are working to establish EV SSL security for the smaller business community, in the near future.

Yet, as IE 7 becomes more widespread and as more SSL certificates begin to expire, companies will likely consider the advantages of EV and take on the new certificates.

?I think as you see Internet Explorer 7 gain more traction and as more begin to see and recognize the green address bar, we?ll see more adoption of these certificates,? Thayer said. ?It?s too early to tell right now, it?s only been a couple of months, so if most SSLs expire within a couple of years of issuance? we?ll see a majority of sites rolling over to EV by January 2009.?

George Di Falco is a Contributing Editor for http://www.TopHosts.Com He monitors the Web hosting industry and reports on a variety of technology related news.

How To Better Secure Your Windows

After the front door or one of your home’s back doors, your windows are the second most probable targets for any burglar. As doors are often well protected nowadays, with the advances in home security, most burglars won’t even try to pick their locks or break them down and turn directly to your windows. Often neglected in terms of protection, windows can easily be bypassed by a clever burglar who can try to break the frame of the window without making too much noise, try to unlock the window from the outside or, if you made the mistake of leaving one of your windows slightly opened, squeeze his hand in and unlock the window from inside.

Basic tips on securing your windows

Some of these tips are quite obvious and won’t require any sort of complicated home security systems, so if you use common sense you’ll see why they’re required and try to follow them.

Close and lock your windows when leaving home

Leaving your window opened to allow your room some fresh air while you’re off to work, school or whatnot automatically puts you at risk of burglary and it’s quite a high risk that shouldn’t be neglected. A skilled burglar will immediately spot the open window and work his way around taking advantage of it. Even if you leave your window open with just a small crack of free space, the burglar can work his way from there and open it completely with the help of various tools, or even his or her hand. This tip mostly refers to situations where you leave home for periods of time that exceed 1 hour, but then again it would be wise for your own home’s security if you don’t open windows widely in a room when you know you’ll be in the other side of the house for a while. It only takes a matter of minutes for a thief to see the open window, sneak in, loot your stuff and get back out, with you being in the house!

Don’t forget about upper floor windows

Now this is one common home security mistake. People secure their doors, enforce their main windows, install alarms on them but leave their upper floor windows wide open! That’s just saying “come in and take whatever you want” to a burglar. Don’t think that just because the window is up there a burglar won’t get to it. Take into consideration that burglars are usually agile and fast (2 of the essential qualities a burglar needs to have in order to not get caught, right?) and getting to the upper story won’t be a major problem to them. Sometimes they’ll use the tools you have laying around the house to get there, so make sure you lock your ladders in your garage or storage house whenever you’re not around.

Getting a home security system that protects your windows

You will have to choose your home security system depending on the number of windows, doors and other areas you want secured, as they come with a limited number of zones they can cover. Most modern home security systems offer window alarms that can be set to trigger every time a window is forced opened or when the lock is tinkered with. One of the most ingenious home security components for windows that can be found today is the wireless “trip wire”. This is a sensor that will be attached to the window and when the window will open, it will hit the invisible trip wire, triggering the alarm.

Planned Home Security Gives The Peace Of Mind You Deserve.

Fraser Wheaton is the founder and publisher of The Home Security Reports website.

http://www.HomeSecurityReports.com

We aim to be the worlds largest content provider for home security information on the internet. If you have a home security question, chances are, we have the answer.

SSL Security and Why it's So Important For Your Business

SSL stands for secure socket layer. This is what is used in making transactions on the internet secure. Many companies use ssl "secure socket layer" to encrypt important information. This could be for when people log into a website, use forms, securing shopping carts, etc.

Now I'm sure you may be wondering where to find a company that provides ssl "secure socket layer?" I find godaddy a inexpensive way to purchase a ssl "secure socket layer" for any business.

Some helpful tips on purchasing a ssl certificate:
1. Choose a company that is reptable and provides the ssl "Secure Socket Layer that your in need of."

2. You will need a dedicated Ip address.
What is a dedicated Ip Address? A dedicated IP address is a unique set of identifying numbers for a web site. No other website will be hosted on these numbers except for your website. This is very necessary for a e-commerce website.
What is e-commerce you may ask? E-commerce (electronic commerce or EC) is the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet, especially the World Wide Web.
How do I get a dedicated Ip address? To get a dedicated Ip address you will need to contact the company that is hosting your website. You will need to pay for hosting and NOT try doing this on a free server or free hosting company.

3. Once you have chosen the company for your ssl "Secure Socket Layer" you will need to purchase the service.

4. Once you have purchased your ssl "Secure Socket Layer" you will need to go through the process of setting this on the provider of the ssl "Secure Socket Layer."

5. Once you have purchased your ssl "Secure Socket Layer" you will need to contact your hosting provider and have them setup the ssl information on the server.

6. A good example of a ssl certificate in use goto: Inspirational Hearts and click on secure connection.

Now I'm sure your asking your self why is this so important for my Business? Thats a good question. To answer your question, many people that purchase on the internet are wanting security. Getting a ssl "Secure Socket Layer" can help entice more sales.

I've been self employed and working on the internet since September 28, 2000. New World Products . Com has been in business now over 6yrs going strong. My company is registered with the state of Minnesota. I run a website hosting & design firm. I do SEO work on the side usually for my clients. My website is: http://www.newworldproducts.com/