How Do You Know If a Website Has an SSL Certificate? Key Signs to Check for Safety

With cybersecurity threats on the rise, many are wondering, "How do you know if a website has an SSL certificate?" SSL certificates are vital for safeguarding personal data online, ensuring secure communication between users and websites.

Statistics reveal a growing number of websites adopting SSL certificates due to heightened security awareness. Yet, recognizing a secure website isn’t always obvious.

In this article, 1Byte breaks down how to easily determine if a website has SSL protection. Through clear instructions and real-world examples, you'll soon be able to answer, "How do you know if a website has an SSL certificate?" with confidence.

Your online safety starts with understanding website security. Let’s begin!

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL certificate is an electronic document stored on the web site’s primary server. This certificate is the foundation of our safe Internet, safeguarding the data as it goes through the global computer networks. Not just a file, but a passport for data, that guarantees it will arrive safely.

SSL is an acronym that is short for Secure Sockets Layer. It is a standard that secures Internet connection and checks the authenticity of the server. All websites that have an HTTPS web address employ SSL. So, when you see “https://” it implies that the website has an SSL certificate installed.

The SSL certificate has certain specifications. It comprises the domain name for which the certificate was issued, the name of the individual or company to which it was issued and the CA that issued the certificate. It also has the date of issue of the certificate as well as the date of expiry of the certificate.

But how can one tell that a given website has an SSL certificate? It’s simple. You should find the padlock icon in the browser’s address bar. This small icon means that the web site has enabled the Secure Socket Layer encryption. To add more credibility, you can click on the padlock icon.

Secure Socket Layer certificates are important for businesses. They protect the user information, confirm the ownership of the website, protect the user from fake websites created by the attackers, and build the user trust. In other words, an SSL certificate is a website’s bodyguard, a safeguard of information, and a sign of credibility.

The benefits of SSL certificates for website owners and users

SSL certificates are one of the most important components of the modern world wide web. It has numerous advantages for the owners of websites and for the users of the Internet. So, let’s move to the details.

Protection of Sensitive Information

They are the fundamental of secure data transfer on the internet. They protect data like names, addresses, and credit card numbers during the time they are in transit between a browser and a server. This encryption ensures that the data cannot be understood by anyone apart from the intended recipient hence protecting it from cyber criminals.

Website and Company Authentication

SSL certificates are obtained from reliable third-party Certificate Authorities. These authorities authenticate the SSL applicant and therefore increase the level of security. It also assists the users to be very certain that they are dealing with the right site and not a fake one.

Increased Customer Trust

Users are confident in the sites that have SSL certificates. Thus, using such functions as advanced encryption and business identity proof, website owners can ensure their visitors a secure environment. Customers are able to view the certificate information and ascertain that the website belongs to a real company that is acting in the customers’ best interest.

Better Search Engine Rankings

Having an SSL certificate can also help a website to rank better on the search engine results page. Google and other search engines give preference to websites that have SSL certificates, and therefore such sites will be preferred in the search results.

Regulatory Compliance

SSL certificates assist website owners to meet the legal requirements that are set by the government. For example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) mandates that websites that deal with credit card details must have an SSL certificate.

How to Know if a Website has an SSL Certificate?

When it comes to understanding “how do you know if a website has an SSL certificate?”, there are several key indicators to look for.

Firstly, the URL of the site should start with “https://”, not “https://”. The “s” in “https:” denotes ‘secure’, meaning that the website has SSL encryption.

Secondly, a padlock icon is usually shown in the address bar of the browser being used. This small icon means that the website has enabled the SSL encryption which makes your connection to the site secure.

To get more information about the security of a particular site, you can click on the padlock icon located close to the address bar. This action will give more details about the SSL certificate of the site.

It is also possible to use online tools that would help to check whether the SSL/TLS certificate was installed correctly on the website. These tools can give information on the certificate issuer, the date when the certificate expires and the certificate serial number in case of SSL problems.

How to view the SSL certificate details in different browsers

When you are wondering, “how do you know if a website has an SSL certificate?”, one of the quickest ways is to look at the SSL certificate information in your browser. This process is somewhat different depending on the browser you are using. Here’s a general guide for some of the most popular ones:

Google Chrome

• Visit any SSL-enabled website.
• In the URL bar, click on the padlock.
• Go to the Certificate section and click the “Valid” link.
• This will open the Certificate window where you can see details such as the subject, validity period, and the algorithms.

Firefox

• Visit an HTTPS website.
• The first step is to click on the Padlock Icon that is located in the address bar.
• You will get a dropdown where you can see the name of the CA that has provided the SSL certificate.
• Select the Arrow at the right side of the dropdown.
• You will get a popup where you can see details of the SSL certificate of the site.

Safari

• Visit an SSL-enabled website.
• Double click on the padlock in the address bar of the website.
• A window will open.
• After that, click on Show Certificate and then click on the Details to get the details of the certificate.

Currently, as of December 2023, the number of SSL certificates on the Internet is more than 292 million. This shows that many websites are using SSL certificates for security of their sites. However, it should be noted that not all SSL certificates are created equal in terms of the security that they provide. For instance, 94.3% of SSL certificates are Domain Validation, which provides the least amount of validation. Therefore, checking the SSL certificate details can provide valuable insights into the security of a website.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding “how do you know if a website has an SSL certificate?” is crucial. It’s simple to check. Just a reminder, any website that uses SSL encryption will always have the ‘s’ that stands for ‘secure’ in its address, and the small padlock icon means that the website is SSL encrypted and your connection to the site is secure.

Therefore, the next time you are browsing the internet and visiting a website, try to look for the presence of an SSL certificate. It is a simple change that can significantly contribute to the improvement of your safety on the Internet. Stay safe online!