Online security for your website.
Today, many of our activities are conducted online. We shop online, pay for our school fees online, and pay our bills online. Various forms of entertainment, work-related tasks, and communications are all done online. Indeed, we are witnessing a rapid increase in internet reliance.
According to a report by the Internet World Stats, there are over 4.9 trillion internet users today. This means that massive amounts of data and information are being shared over the internet. The internet, on most occasions, will be private and secure. However, it is not immune to cyber threats.
Therefore, web security should be a precedence task. With the increase in intrusions by cyber attackers and malicious hackers, online security has become a top priority for individuals and businesses.
Online security can be defined as the rules, strategies, practices, and guidelines involved in protecting online resources from being accessed by the many cybercriminals available on the internet today. They include systems that protect online user data and privacy from being compromised by cyber attackers. Online security tactics and practices protect users from cyber threats such as hacking into users’ emails, computer systems, networks, and websites.
Online Security Threats
While the internet has been of great value by providing lots of information and services, it also has brought a new wave of cyber threats. Online threats increase in volume with cyber attackers getting creative and using more sophisticated means to access online accounts.
The list of potential online risks is long, but I have explained two of the common cyber threats here:
Malware – is the short form of malicious software. Malware is a common type of attack that is used by cybercriminals to access online accounts. Malware usually comes in different ways, such as viruses, Trojan horses, worms, ransomware, and spyware.
Phishing attacks – This is also another common type of online threat. An attacker tries to deceive the victim into revealing financial or personal information by pretending to be a legitimate business.
These two are the most common types of online threats that you are likely to face, while Man-In-The-Middle attacks, spamming, and SQL injections are few other attacks.
Security measures to protect your Online Resources
It is your sole responsibility to ensure that all your resources remain safe online. There are many security tools and procedures which, when properly applied, can help you with this.
For instance, using anti-virus software, using a VPN online, and using strong and unique passwords can help when you want to protect your online data. Another very vital tool that will help you stay safe online is the SSL certificate. The SSL certificates have become so essential in cybersecurity. This article will focus more on the SSL certificate subject and why they are vital in online security.
SSL Certificates
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a protocol that encrypts the communication between the servers and the users’ browsers by establishing a secure session. SSL certificates are the mainstay of web security. An SSL certificate is a protocol that encrypts and decrypts all the information and communications between the web servers and web browsers.
Encrypting means putting the data transmission into a coded format. The data can only be interpreted and read by the intended recipient, who holds the required key to open and read the information. SSL certificates are of great essence in online security.
Today, the internet is full of hawkeyed hackers and intruders waiting to capitalize on any opportunity that comes their way. They have strategically laid their trap to try and intercept your communication and steal your relevant information. If they succeed in doing so, then severe repercussions await you.
The cost of a successful cyber beach is not something you want to hear, leave alone facing it. According to a 2020 IBM cost of data breach report, there is a rise in a security breach price and reached to $3.86 million.
The best measure is to have an SSL certificate that protects all your communication and data exchanges online. For those websites that accept credit card payments or debit cards and those that involve the exchange of sensitive personal information such as physical locations or health details, an SSL certificate is mandatory.
What is HTTPS?
There are a few visual cues that will tell you whether a website has an SSL certificate. A website with an SSL certificate will have its URL address beginning with HTTPS. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is an updated and much more secure version of HTTP. HTTPS is an online communication protocol primarily tasked with protecting all communications’ integrity and confidentiality between website servers and browsers.
Modern website users are savvy and will ensure their experience online remains as secure as possible. They will be looking for the HTTPS symbol as one of the security assurances. I encourage all website owners to adopt the HTTPS protocol for the sake of the security of their website visitors. The Secure Socket Layer secures all communications and data files that are sent via HTTPS. The SSL provides three essential layers of protection. The three are discussed below.
Data encryption- encrypting the communication helps to keep the data safe from intruders. Data is communicated in a coded format. Only the intended recipient who has the right key to open the communication will do so. It will be useless for an intruder to try and eavesdrop on the transmission. This means that, while website visitors will be browsing through the website, nobody will be able to steal their information, track their activities, or make malicious changes that alter the data’s original meaning and purpose.
Data integrity- communication and information in transit cannot be altered without being detected.
Authentication- there are many scammers on the internet today, and users want to make sure that they communicate with the right person. HTTPS helps users to verify the authenticity and validity of the website. This also builds user trust, which has other benefits to the business.
How to implement an SSL certificate on your website
At this point, you have already realized why the SSL certificate is needed for website and online security. You, therefore, do not have an option but to buy an SSL certificate. There exist several ways which you can follow to add an SSL certificate to your website. Some web hosting companies usually offer SSL certificates as part of their hosting packages.
It is also possible to transfer an SSL certificate from other hosts. SSL certificates are generally acquired from trusted Certificate Authorities. SSL certificate can be installed on any server. For guidance, here we have a shared SSL installation guide of cPanel, and you can read this guide to learn how to install an SSL certificate on your website.
Conclusion
The internet is what has made the world to be referred to as a global village. It is now possible to communicate with another person on another continent. It is the online era, and most people are embracing it wholeheartedly.
We read books online, attend online classes, make payments online, and do our shopping online. Almost everything is done online, thanks to the fast internet connectivity and advancement in technology. However, with all the good things that the internet has brought, some challenges come with it.
Online security is the biggest challenge that the internet is facing today. This calls for proper online security measures and practices. The article explains the concept of SSL certificates and why the certificates are so crucial in online security.
