HTTPS Certificate for website

Started by safracatz, Sep 07, 2022, 12:02 AM

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safracatzTopic starter

If the hosting provider's server is involved in data encryption, it is unclear why a website needs a certificate. I am unsure of the added functionality and how it works. If the hosting provider wants to take responsibility, it is understandable. However, if a web site owner receives a certificate, they may not be responsible for user-generated content.
There is a main misunderstanding that the hosting provider's server provides the protocol directly, and the role of the site owner's certificate is not clear.
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richtedy

The HTTPS protocol requires both the client and server to have certificates that are exchanged when establishing a secure connection. Simply encrypting data is not enough; the protocol must authenticate the certificate to prevent attackers from intercepting or altering data. To accomplish this, certification authorities verify that you own the website and issue a certificate with a digital signature. The certificate is associated with a private key stored on your server, which an attacker cannot use without that key.

Certificates ensure that the client connects only to the right server, and that an attacker cannot generate a fake web site certificate. Hosting providers may be able to handle the process for you, but if not, it is important for the site owner to participate in order to demonstrate ownership of the website. This step prevents an attacker from getting a digital signature from the certification authority without proper verification. Overall, certificates play a crucial role in ensuring website security and should not be disregarded.
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Я И Бал Крассавиц

Hello! The owner of the site, in no case has anything to do with the consumers of the site, since each person is responsible for himself!) And in addition, I would like to say that you asked a good question!)
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anhyeuviolet

To safeguard personal data such as logins, passwords, bank card numbers, and email addresses, an SSL certificate is necessary. This is important for banks, payment systems, corporations, online stores, social networks, government agencies, online forums, and other websites that handle sensitive information.

Moreover, having an SSL certificate benefits the site owner by providing a safer environment for customers to enter their personal data and increasing the company's reputation. With SSL, a secure connection is established between the client's browser and the site, ensuring confidentiality. The client's browser encrypts the card number and sends it as a random set of characters that only the server can decrypt with a special key. Scammers who intercept the information will not be able to make sense of it without the key. Therefore, an SSL certificate is essential for both protecting personal data and building trust with customers.
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Trupti

While it's true that the hosting provider's server may handle the data encryption between the user's browser and the server itself, a website still needs a certificate for a different purpose: establishing trust and authenticity.

When a user visits a website, their browser checks if the site has a valid SSL/TLS certificate. This certificate is issued by a trusted third party called a certificate authority (CA). It's like a digital passport that confirms the ownership of the website and encrypts the data exchanged between the user and the server.

Having a certificate assures users that they are communicating with the legitimate owner of the website and that their data is encrypted and secure during transmission. This is especially important when users are providing sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or personal data.

The responsibility for user-generated content is separate from the need for an SSL/TLS certificate. A certificate primarily focuses on securing the connection between the user and the server, while content responsibility usually lies with the website owner and is governed by laws and regulations.

So, even if the hosting provider handles the server-side encryption, websites still need a certificate to establish trust and ensure secure communication with users.

An SSL/TLS certificate serves a few key purposes:

1. Encryption: The primary function of an SSL/TLS certificate is to encrypt the data transmitted between the user's browser and the server. Encryption ensures that any sensitive information exchanged, such as login credentials or financial details, cannot be intercepted or read by unauthorized parties.

2. Authentication: The certificate also acts as a form of authentication. It verifies the identity of the website and confirms that it belongs to the entity it claims to represent. This helps users trust that they are interacting with the legitimate website and not an imposter or malicious entity.

3. Trustworthiness: SSL/TLS certificates are issued by trusted certificate authorities (CAs) that have been vetted and authorized to issue certificates. Browsers trust these CAs and include their root certificates, allowing them to validate the authenticity of websites. When a website has a valid certificate, browsers display visual indicators like a padlock icon or "https" in the address bar, signaling to users that the site is secure and trustworthy.

Regarding responsibility for user-generated content, it's important to note that SSL/TLS certificates do not directly address this issue. The responsibility for user-generated content lies with the website owner, who is typically subject to local laws, regulations, and platform-specific policies regarding content moderation and liability.

In summary, while hosting providers may handle server-side encryption, SSL/TLS certificates play a vital role in securing communication, verifying authenticity, and building trust with users. They do not relieve website owners of their responsibilities for user-generated content, which are separate concerns governed by relevant legal and policy frameworks.
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