How to check the validity of an SSL domain certificate

Users often specify personal data on websites, that is, account passwords, email addresses, phone numbers. In addition, the number of web resources that make it possible to make an online purchase is increasing — online stores, banks, ticketing services, and other commercial projects.

During transactions, users specify the credentials of their payment cards. Sometimes attackers try to intercept information from the closed part of a website.

Confidential user information is transmitted in encrypted form with the respective digital signature of the certificate.

A reliable website should be credible providing conditions for the protection of personal data of customers both in e-commerce and on resources for communication and exchange of information. An SSL certificate is a way to protect users' personal data on any website.

A website that uses a secure connection protocol usually has a lock icon in the address bar of the browser. It may also indicate "Secure" or the name of the company that the web resource represents. Upon receipt of an SSL certificate, the site extension changes from HTTP to HTTPS.

In the address bar of sites with the standard HTTP protocol, the status is usually indicated as "Not secure".

If a website with the HTTPS protocol uses an invalid certificate (for example, an expired one) or contains mixed content (for example, downloads scripts via HTTP), the browser may block its download, paying attention to an insecure connection.

The first step is to determine the type of Internet resource and the level of information security control required for it.

If a payment system is connected to a website and a user entrusts their bank card credentials to it, you should buy an SSL certificate with advanced verification. Besides, the service provider must be reliable.

A free SSL certificate, for example, from Let's Encrypt, may be suitable for an information resource, blog, or business card website.

SSL certificates can be divided into three categories. Each of them determines the conditions for the transition to the HTTPS protocol, as well as the timing of the document issue.

In addition to securing a specific website, for example, www.mysite.com, you can get one SSL certificate for several domains: www.mysite1.com, mysite2.com, mysite.biz, etc.

The maximum number of domains that a single multi-domain certificate (MDC) protects depends on the provider. For example, it can be 100 or 250 websites. Often the configured limit can be increased at an additional cost.

Typically, installing a certificate includes three main stages: requesting a certificate, receiving files from an SSL provider by e-mail and setting up a certificate on a hosting.

Certificate Signing Request or a CSR request is a file with information about the domain and the company for which the certificate is required. The file also contains a public key. When filling out data in a file or form of the service generating the request, it is important to be careful and double-check the information before submitting it.

After SSL is activated, the certification authority sends the necessary files to the applicant's email. They need to be saved on a PC for future work.

Using the data to access the hosting, you should install the SSL certificate on the domain. This can be done through the hosting toolbar, website admin panel or a command line.

The certificate is often configured on the hosting by filling out a special form, or uploading key files and sending them for verification. You can also work with files with the extension .crt in the section responsible for SSL settings.

Some providers offer a one-click certificate request. In this case, it is enough for the website owner to order and pay for the service; the hosting provider will do the rest for them.

Validation of the SSL certificate is the final step after it is installed on the server. There are several ways to do this.

In an online service, in order to analyze the correct operation of SSL certificates, you need to enter the website URL and start the validation process. Ssl4less or Sslshopper are suitable tools for online validation testing.

As a result of testing, several blocks will be displayed that indicate the compatibility of the certificate with browsers, its validity period, and also help to identify errors in its operation.

When you click on the lock in the address bar of the web page, a drop-down list appears, among which there is the string "Certificates" and the corresponding status, for example, "valid". You can also address the console using the key combination Ctrl + Shift + I and select the Security tab.

Errors may occur when checking the installed certificate for validity. Let's consider the main problems and ways to solve them.

Configuring an SSL certificate and checking its validity are ways to increase the website reliability. A web resource with the HTTPS protocol has higher ranking perspectives, and a domain certificate is an important condition for the optimization of any website.