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How SSL Encryption works
An SSL Certificate lets visitors know that they are really
doing business with you (not an impostor's "spoof " site) and
that the information they send through your site-such as credit
card numbers, online forms, and financial data-is protected from
interception or alteration over the Web.
How it works:
- A customer contacts your site and accesses a secured URL:
a page secured by a Server ID (indicated by a URL that begins
with "https:" instead of just "http:" or by a message from the
browser).
- Your server responds, automatically sending the customer
your site's digital certificate, which authenticates your
site.
- Your customer's Web browser generates a unique "session
key" (like a code) to encrypt all communications with the
site.
- The user's browser encrypts the session key with the your
site's public key so only your site can read the session key.
Depending on the browser, the user may see a key icon becoming
whole or a padlock closing, indicating that the session is
secure.
- A secure session is now established--all communications
will be encrypted and can only be decrypted by the two parties
in the session. It all takes only seconds and requires no
action by the user.
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