- What is an SSL Certificate?
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An SSL Certificate is the electronic counterpart to a passport or a driver's license. It is a digital certificate you install on the server that hosts your website. SSL Certificates have two primary functions:
- To authenticate the identity of your website to visiting browsers and your identity or business to the visiting customer, and
- To "encrypt" - or protect - private information that's exchanged on your site, such as credit card numbers or customer account information.
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, which is the technology used to protect private information on your site.
- Why do I need an SSL Certificate?
- In today's environment, online customers are more wary than ever of Internet fraud, identity theft and "phishing" schemes. Installing the proper security and validation for your site is essential to gaining your customers' trust, and for letting potential customers know your site is a secure place where they can exchange confidential information, purchase products and services and complete secure transactions.
- How will customers know that my site is secure?
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When you have an SSL Certificate installed on your server, your site will display three instantly recognizable symbols that let customers know your site is secure:
- A padlock symbol that appears in their web browser when your site is opened.
- The "https" prefix in front of your URL address in the browser.
- A Web.com Site Seal that appears on your website.
When you install an Extended Validation certificate, the browser bar on newer versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox will appear green whenever your site is opened, indicating that your site has the highest level of validation available.
- Which Certificate is right for me?
- Use this quick reference guide to help choose the Certificate that is right for your business. Additionally, please see "Compare SSL Certificates" in tab #3 above for more information.
Essential Security
Recommended for website owners that exchange sensitive personal data and ecommerce web businesses with a small to medium level of transactions (up to 50/month).
Premium Security
Recommended for more established ecommerce sellers and medium-sized businesses with higher monthly transactions (50-250/month).
Unlimited Subdomains/Wildcard
Recommended for larger websites and ecommerce sellers servicing a high number of customers and exchanging information from several different locations - or subdomains - of your site (ie shopping carts, customer account sections, etc).
Extended Validation
Recommended for established businesses of any size who require the highest level of customer assurance in order to stay competitive and garner the highest amount of customer trust. Only certain types of businesses and organizations qualify for Extended Validation. Learn more under "What is Extended Validation?"
- What is Validation
- Validation is the process of having your domain and business or individual identity authenticated by a Certificate Authority. It's similar to a Driver's License, or any official document that provides you with proof of your identity and credentials. Once your Certificate is installed on your server, customers can view your authenticated information by clicking on the padlock symbol in the browser or on the Web.com Site Seal - this will automatically display your qualifications to the public, similar to how professionals hang framed copies of licenses, degrees and other credentialing documents on their office walls.
- How long does it take to get validated?
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The following are approximate processing times for validation and issuance of SSL Certificates:
- Essential SSL Certificate (Domain ownership validation): In most cases instant validation.
- Premium SSL Certificate (Domain and Business and/or individual validation): 1 business day. Validation times can vary depending on the documents you provided
- Extended Validation SSL Certificate: 4-5 business days. Validation times largely depend on the documentation provided by the customer.
- What is Extended Validation?
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Extended Validation is the highest level of validation any business can receive. A unique benefit of an Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is that it turns the browser bar green whenever your site is opened in newer versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox - giving your visitors an instant visual indication that your site has the highest level of assurance.
The EV application is more extensive than other certificates. For this reason it has a slightly longer validation time.
The following types of entities may qualify for Extended Validation:
- Corporation/Limited Liability Company
- Sole Proprietorship/Unincorporated Business
- Government Organization
- NGO/International Treaty Organization
- What is Automatic Installation?
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If you've purchased one of our new hosting packages after 5/30/08 and your domain name is registered with Web.com, you have the option to install most of our SSL certificates with just a few mouse clicks. This will greatly facilitate the installation process - and is something that few other SSL providers can offer.
Automatic installation applies to all certificates for which you've had us create a Certificate Signing request during set up - with the exception of Wildcard SSL Certificates, which do not offer the automatic install option.
- What are Subdomains?
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A subdomain is a domain that is created by using your main domain name and a prefix name. Many websites use subdomains as a way to create separate areas or functions of the website. For example, domain.com might use the subdomain checkout.domain.com to handle customer check outs, and info.domain.com for customer information, etc.
If your website uses subdomains and you wish to secure several different subdomains, we recommend a Wildcard SSL Certificate, which allows you to secure unlimited subdomains with a single certificate.
- What is Encryption?
- Encryption is the technical process behind SSL Certificates that allows data to be transmitted securely over computer networks. It essentially masks data so that unauthorized sources are unable to read or intercept it. All Web.com SSL Certificates offer up to 256-bit encryption - the highest standard in the industry.
- What is a Warranty?
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All Web.com SSL Certificates come with warranties so that your site's visitors can have confidence when conducting a transaction with you. Warranty amounts for each Certificate are:
- Essential SSL: $ 10,000 Warranty
- Premium SSL: $ 250,000 Warranty
- Wildcard SSL: $ 250,000 Warranty
- EV SSL: $ 250,000 Warranty
The amounts above represent the maximum amount site visitors may receive in compensation for a loss.
- Why should I trust Web.com with my security needs?
- Web.com is one of the most recognized names in the industry. Millions of web-based businesses trust us with their online services. Getting an SSL Certificate from Web.com allows your website and your online business to benefit from a well recognized and well established name. You'll also have the advantage of our experienced customer call center.
- Which Web.com websites can accommodate an SSL Certificate?
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Web.com hosted websites
Websites hosted with a Web.com Hosting solution can accommodate an SSL Certificate. If you purchased your hosting solution after 5/30/08 you have the option to install your Certificate with just a few mouse clicks. Solutions purchased prior to 5/30/08 may require additional steps to install an SSL Certificate.
ProStores eCommerce websites
These website solutions can accommodate an SSL Certificate, but may require a free upgrade. Please speak with a Customer Service Representative at (800) 932-4678 to find out more about adding an SSL Certificate to your ProStores website.
Do-It-Myself and Do-It-Myself with eCommerce websites
These website solutions either do not accommodate SSL encryption or may already have a shared SSL Certificate installed - in which case no additional security would be needed. Please speak with a Customer Service Representative at (800) 932-4678 to find out if your Do-It-Myself website is already protected.
- Do you have SSL Certificates that are not listed on your website?
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Yes, we also offer the following additional certificates which you may purchase by phone at (800) 932-4678:
- Multi Domain Certificates, Domain validated
- Multi Domain Certificates, Domain and Organization validated
- Domain Validated Wildcard Certificate
- Are there special requirements for installing an SSL Certificate on my website?
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SSL Certificates can be successfully installed on most websites. However one specific requirement is that your website has a dedicated IP address.
If your site is hosted with a Web.com hosting package purchased after 5/30/08, your site already has a dedicated IP address and is ready for your certificate to be installed.
If your site is hosted with a Web.com hosting package purchased before 5/30/08, we can easily move your site to a dedicated IP address. Simply call us at (800) 932-4678 to initiate the process.
If your site is hosted outside of Web.com, contact your hosting company to find out if you already have a dedicated IP address, or if any additional steps must be taken before installing your certificate.
One other special requirement to be aware of: in order to qualify for an Extended Validation, your organization must be one of the following types of entities:
- Corporation/Limited Liability Company
- Sole Proprietorship/Unincorporated Business
- Government Organization
- NGO/International Treaty Organization