Free Online SSL Tools to Check Up SSL Certificates

Three Ways to Diagnose, Double Check, and Decode SSL Certificates

After spending the money to purchase an SSL Certificate, the last thing any business wants is an unexpected cost to diagnose, monitor, or double check the certificate that they bought. The great news is that there are free ways to diagnose problems with SSL Certificates online. Visitors can diagnose certificate problems, check whether private keys match a certificate, or decode Certificate Signing Requests to verify the correct information. Becoming aware of these free SSL Tools that check SSL certificates, compare SSL certificates, decode SSL Certificates, and check CSRs will help a business feel more confident about purchasing these web security products, which are critically essential.

Diagnose the SSL Certificate

Select an SSL Certificate checking site online to discover whether there were any problems with the installation of the SSL Certificate. There are free sites that allow visitors to enter the server’s hostname into search boxes to verify that there was a correct installation of the SSL Certificate on the visitor’s web server. This will determine whether the SSL Certificate is trusted or valid, and whether or not any “error” messages are being given to any of the visitor’s users. The site may require a public server hostname.

Check SSL Tool: https://www.rapidsslonline.com/checksslcertificate.aspx

Double Check the Private Key and CSR (Certificate Signing Request)

Another free service that can be utilized online allows visitors to enter their certificate and private key info to determine if the Certificate Signing Request is matched by the private key of a certificate. Confusion can occur when trying to manage various certificates and some might forget which certificate goes with which private key or what code signing certificate was used to generate whichever certificate. One site compares an md5 hash of the private key modulus, or certificate modulus, or code signing request modulus to determine if there is or isn’t a match.

Check CSR Tool: https://www.rapidsslonline.com/checkcsr.aspx

Decode Certificates to Verify Information

Utilize a decoder online which allows for a visitor to paste their Certificate Signing Request into an AJAX CSR decoder in order to verify that the Code Signing Request contains the correct information. It can be a hassle to determine what information is contained in a certificate signing request because the information is encoded. However, that encoded company information is used to issue the SSL public key. Because certificate authorities use the information contained therein, it is important to decode the certificate signing requests to make sure the information is accurate. This can be accomplished on a site which offers free decoding.

SSL Certificate Selection

With the knowledge that free services are provided to help in the organization or maintenance of these web security products anyone can feel more confident about purchasing them. Some providers already offer 24/7 technical support, but for those that may like to do it for themselves there are other resources online that are free and can serve as an encouragement for purchasing the web security products that their company needs.

After alleviating any fear that a business may have in purchasing a web security product, (due to the novelty of the product or user inexperience), it is important to differentiate which products would be most useful and cost-effective in accomplishing the web security needs of the business.

Quick Comparison of SSL Certificates

There are more certificates, but here are three popular choices:

• EV Certificate – Offers the highest degree of protection by engaging in the most rigorous industry standardized validation and because of this, exclusively boasts a green address bar that is shown on 99.9% of browsers.
• WildCard Certificate – Offers a cost-effective option in securing multiple sub-domain names using a single certificate. This offers economy and versatility.
• Standard Certificate – Personal data protection in a more basic form for the lowest possible price. Solid web security but with less versatility or visual confidence than that which is provided by the other two.

Free SSL Tools Provide Confidence

Whatever the web security needs are for a business, it is important to consider what support there is out there for the product that the business desires to utilize. As said before, some sellers provide all the technical support that a buyer would need, but some do not. Since some may not, it is encouraging to know that there are free services that exist to help the buyers out in the process.

SSL certificates and the best medicine for website security

It's no accident that cybersecurity borrows the term 'virus' from health care. Malware, trojans, botnets and other cyberthreats invade computer organisms, using their hosts to replicate and intensify. Medical professionals are working constantly to develop ways to treat infections and prevent maladies before they start. Likewise, cybersecurity and IT pros need to practice strong protective measures to stymie threats and take proactive treatment initiatives to send viruses into remission. Deloitte & Touche principals Kelly Bissell and Kieran Norton recently prescribed a new approach to network security in the age of complex technology for the Wall Street Journal.

"Cyber intelligence of tomorrow should operate more like the human immune system," they wrote.

As opposed to spending time and energy immediately after a computer security breach locating the root cause of a virus in an attempt to stop it, Bissell and Norton stated, companies should take a more immediate focus on sequestering the threat and cutting off its ability to grow. In this way, cybersecurity would function like the body's white blood cells, which recognize that no matter what the origins of the attack, stopping its spread is the first priority. After it is under control, measures can be taken to find the root cause and assess any possible lasting damage.

"Detected incidents could be quarantined, allowing the threat to be understood and traced," wrote Bissell and Norton. "This may allow teams to apply cyber forensics in a controlled environment where business risk has already been contained."

How are web server certificates like vaccinations?

It's important to remember that preventative tactics like digital encryption can be better defenses against viruses than overt and belligerent ones. Computerworld recently noted that preemptive attacks against hackers or attempts to avenge a threat are poor security tactics because they can have unintended consequences. James Lewis, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, strongly cautioned private sector enterprises from becoming combative.

This is a remarkably bad idea." said Lewis, according to Computerworld. "It would harm the national interest."

So what is a private company to do? Measures like web server SSL certificates can act as inoculating agents, protecting companies from threats because they are configured with comprehensive security for businesses and users in mind. These certificates acknowledge that viruses are a prevalent threat, and show users that a company is committed to eradicating potential security epidemics. 

Protect your data in transit with an SSL certificate today.

EV SSL Certificates are Worth their Wait

Customers are learning the importance of web security and validation in e-Commerce

SSL Certificates go beyond encryption technology for businesses that participate in e-commerce or need encryption on their servers.  They validate the website. Different SSL Certificates offer different degrees of validation. EV SSL Certificates require the most stringent website validation. Because of the more stringent requirement, it is impossible to issue these certificates in minutes (as can be done for just a Domain Validation Certificate), but with an EV SSL Certificate a business gets the green address bar (which indicates the thorough validation of the company) and which customers are growing more aware of every day.

TechNavio is one of the leading companies which researches and advises on the emerging technology trends in the market.  TechNavio’s analysts forecast the Global Extended Validation SSL Certification market to grow at a CAGR of 49.99% over the period of 2011-2015. One of the key factors of the requirement is because of the increasing number of online transactions that are occurring.

Before now, utilizing the green address bar provided by EV SSL Certificates might not have shown a great boost of confidence by customers who did not learn about or understand the significance of the green address bar. However, customers are now being educated about the importance of thorough validation by both the SSL companies providing it and by recognizing it in most of their banking and other important online transactions.

EV SSL Certificates Offer Web Security at a Glance

Customers are learning about web security from the breaches of security that the media reports on. As customers lives are filled more with online transactions and communications they become more educated on the matter by default. They may have had one of their social networks hacked because of a phishing scheme or they have at least had a friend that has been affected by such an attack. They have been informed by these social networks to not give their information to false parties.

These examples lead the customers toward an education of the importance of encrypted data transfer and validation of the sites that they use. While each customer might not be able to articulate what EV SSL Certificates involve such as 256 bit strong encryption strength, they do realize if they are comfortable with the website that they are looking at and whether it promotes confidence and web security at a glance.

EV SSL Certificates Require Stringent Validation

It is not possible to get the green address bar without acquiring an EV SSL or Extended Validation SSL  Certificate. In order to be granted an EV SSL Certificate a company must pass certain background checks to insure integrity. These background and validation procedures include:

1. Establishing legal identity and operational/physical presence of website owner.

This offers a more secure validation process than a Domain Validated Certificate because it requires a physical presence, as opposed to checking only if the domain name is validated.

2. Establish that the applicant is the domain name owner AND validation of representatives.

The heightened validation requires more than simple Domain Validation, it requires validation of representatives. This helps protect customers from phishing threats and results in preserving customer loyalty for a website.

3. Confirm identity of website representatives, authorizations granted, and that organization is not on any government blacklist.

This protects customers from other potential sources of fraud. This verifies that the organization is legally registered and active also.

The Impact of EV SSL Certificates on Increased Revenue

Each business can track their conversion and identify the impact that an EV SSL Certificate will have in creating added security for their customers. Obviously, as the awareness and demand for heightened validation grows, the customers will consider the advantages of doing their business with a company that provides this level of integrity.

For smaller and medium-sized eCommerce businesses which new customers are coming across, it will certainly help to gain the trust that other larger business have already established. Many of the larger businesses also employ the EV SSL Certificate and as a result, the standard is being created.

Ecommerce site owners, web masters, and IT professionals should consider the trends of web security in order to keep the website that they work for current and relevant.

Original Source: https://www.rapidsslonline.com/blog/ev-ssl-certificates-are-worth-their-wait

Enable Authentication of Java Code Signing Certificate to Gain The Trust of Users

Easy online distribution allows developers to create fun and functional code anywhere and everywhere. Nevertheless, the potential for fraud and the spread of malicious code have also increased. With a JAVA Code Signing Certificate, websites can ensure users that code and content are safe to download. This protects a website’s most valuable professional asset: its reputation.

Code Signing authenticates the source code and confirms the integrity of the content distributed online. The JAVA Code Signing Authentication was designed for mobile and office equipment Java applications and is recognized by Java Runtime Environment (JRE). For developers and software publishers of Java applications, code signing reduces the number of error messages and builds trust in their reputation.

Java platforms (J2SE and J2ME) have security features that recognize Object Signing and verify the presence of a reliable digital signature. A security warning displays the name of the publisher, the organization and the URL. Users then choose whether to trust the certificate or display more information.

In a nutshell, Code Signing Certificates provide a virtual “package” that ensures the secure delivering of content over the internet. When customers download software containing Java signed objects, they are assured of the source of the content and its integrity with an added level of trust because the code and content of the Java applications is harder falsify or damage.

Original Source: https://www.rapidsslonline.com/blog/enable-authentication-of-java-code-signing-certificate-to-gain-the-trust-of-users

WildCard SSL Certificates and Easy Answers

The best way to secure and protect sub-domains can be accomplished through the use of a WildCard SSL Certificate. These certificates offer convenience and affordability by use of a public key certificate which can be used with multiple sub-domains of a domain. Therefore, instead of purchasing and administering several separate SSL Certificates for each sub-domain, a business can utilize a Wildcard SSL Certificate.

While WildCard SSL Certificates provide versatility, only a single level of sub-domain matching is supported. For example, the use of *.company.com WildCard could be: subscribe.company.com, payment.company.com, login.company.com, or contact.company.com. Although, during the installation process there has been recommendations on changing the WildCard domain names to match the actual account domain name (not installing as *.company.com). It is possible to have a WildCard SSL Certificate installed to more than one sub-domain on a single IP address.

However, If you attempt to update a WildCard SSL Certificate, the single IP address method might not be retained when the WildCard is installed to more than one sub-domain on a single IP address. If there is no manual configuration then each sub-domain or domain will need its own dedicated IP address. A CPanel can be used for easier management over dedicated IP addresses when each site needs its own IP for SSL.

Installing the WildCard SSL Certificate at WHM

The WHM menu path which is used to install SSL Certificates is:

WHM: Main>>SSL/TLS>> Install a SSL Certificate and Setup the Domain

1. Copy and paste the WildCard SSL Certificate into the first text area


2. Permit the rest of the text area to be filled automatically


3. Confirm that the SSL Key and CA bundle are accurate


4. Switch the WildCard domain name to match the actual account domain name


5. Double check that the username and IP address match the actual account involved

Issues with the WildCard SSL Certificate

Some mobile devices might not be able to connect because of authentication issues if they do not trust the certificates (because the certificate is not trusted by the customer’s browser). To help prevent this error it is best to use a trusted provider of WildCard SSL Certificates that issues a certificate the user’s browser will rely on. Basic browsers that do not support “Certificate Request” may have problems because the certificate appears invalid due to lack of verification. Intermediate Certificates are used to connect an SSL Certificate to a trusted root certificate. Commercial Certificates have the trusted root certificate built in.

Although many platforms, devices, servers, services work well with the WildCard Certificates, there are some that are incompatible such as:

* Microsoft Office Communications Server

* Microsoft Lync Server

* Oracle Wallet Manager

* Windows Mobile 5 Devices

The WildCard SSL Certificate as a Solution

There are different products which can be used to provide SSL for websites. It is important to consider which domains and sub-domains need to be protected, how they can best be protected, and what cost is affordable for the business. A WildCard SSL Certificate is a versatile tool, although it does have its limitations. IT Professionals and Web Security Experts should consider the effectiveness of the WildCard SSL Certificate in providing the security they need in the areas that they desire.

Money can be saved when using a certificate such as the WildCard by avoiding the individualized costs of other various certificates. So long as the WildCard has been properly installed it is a great resource in providing easier web security administration in a cost-effective manner. As mentioned before, the WildCard SSL Certificate will only apply to those servers which are compatible and only to secure and protect sub-domains. There are other options if protection is needed for various domain names.

Original Source:
https://www.rapidsslonline.com/blog/wildcard-ssl-certificates-and-easy-answers