Secure Your Site

Trust is a fundamental basis of all business relationships. We put a lot of effort into making our business as transparent as possible, so that you know what you are getting and who you are dealing with. We also provide security through features such as returns policies, full contact details - and a secure payments system. Just as you need to have confidence in the identity of our site and security in making payments, your customers need these in you.

One of the key success factors for e-commerce has been the implementation of highly available security technology into browsers and web servers - in particular SSL. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the transaction security protocol used by hundreds of thousands of websites to protect online commerce.

The widespread use of SSL has invariably encouraged online commerce and helped it rise to its current levels. As a result our Internet economy has come to depend on SSL as a security and trust infrastructure, but what does the little yellow padlock really mean to the user? More than some SSL Providers would have you believe…

Since the SSL protocol was released by Netscape as a security technology in 1996 consumers have been educated to look for the SSL padlock before passing any critical details over the Internet. Technically, the SSL protocol provides an encrypted link between two parties, however in the eyes of the consumer, seeing the SSL padlock in their browser means much more:

Security: they have a secure (encrypted) link with the website
Trust: the website displaying the padlock is a valid and legitimate organization or an accountable legal entity

As well as ensuring that their details remain secure during a transaction, consumers also care whether the website they are dealing with is legitimate. In order to solve the critical issue of identity assurance as well as information security on the Internet, the efforts of SSL Providers (Certification Authorities), consumer magazines and industry bodies have rightly resulted in the SSL padlock becoming synonymous with trust and integrity - factors consumers associate with being legitimate.

This guide explains how SSL allows you to protect your customer's transactions and provide visitors with proof of your digital identity. Using SSL to secure your online transactions tells your customers you take their security seriously. They will visibly see that their online transaction will be secure, confidential and integral and give them the confidence that you have removed the risk associated with trading over the Internet.

What is HTTPS ?
HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (http). It is a secure means of transferring data using the https protocol in the World Wide Web where secure e-commerce transactions, such as online banking transactions and other financial transactions are involved. In other words, https encrypts the session with a digital certificate i.e., HTTP over SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) which can be used by Web browsers and HTTPS - capable client programs. So if the website begins with https:// instead of http://, it is a secure site. Almost 99% of the browsers can connect to web servers either using http or https. The address bar in the browser will begin with https instead of http, if the website is secured. Most of the web browsers like IE, Firefox etc., display a pad ”lock” icon to indicate the website is secure, which also displays https in the address bar. This padlock icon is displayed only when an SSL certificate is installed by their web server. If the padlock icon and the web link begin with https then it can usually be concluded that the site is legitimate and secure to provide confidential information or carry financial transactions.

What is SSL?
Secure Sockets Layer, SSL, is the standard security technology for creating an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browser remain private and integral. SSL is an industry standard and is used by millions of websites in the protection of their online transactions with their customers.

SSL uses a cryptographic system that uses two keys to encrypt data, firstly a public key known to everyone and the second is the private key known only to the recipient. SSL Encryption is a unique and effective way to achieve data and ecommerce security. So when a SSL - Digital Certificate is installed on the website, a padlock icon can be seen at the bottom area of the navigator and also the address in the address bar will begin with "https" instead of http during a secure session, which means that the data is encrypted.

In order to be able to generate an SSL link, a web server requires an SSL Certificate.

Displaying the SSL Secure Padlock
The complexities of the SSL protocol remain invisible to your customers. Instead their browsers provide them with a key indicator to let them know they are currently protected by an SSL encrypted session - the Padlock:

As seen by users of Internet Explorer

Clicking on the Padlock displays your SSL Certificate and your details:

As seen by users of Internet Explorer

All SSL Certificates are issued to either companies or legally accountable individuals. Typically an SSL Certificate will contain your domain name, your company name, your address, your city, your state and your country. It will also contain the expiry date of the Certificate and details of the Certification Authority responsible for the issuance of the Certificate.

When a browser connects to a secure site (https) it will retrieve the site's SSL Certificate and check that it has not expired, it has been issued by a Certification Authority the browser trusts, and that it is being used by the website for which it has been issued. If it fails on any one of these checks the browser will display a warning to the end user.

Comodo - our Partner for Internet Security
Our own web site uses security and identity solutions from Comodo, the Certification Authority that provides InstantSSL Certificates. Comodo is the fastest growing SSL Provider in the world. Unlike other Certification Authorities, Comodo does not just provide SSL Certificates - they are a world-renowned security and cryptography service provider.

Instant SSL Certificates are the most cost-effective fully validated and fully supported 128 bit SSL Certificates you can buy ! You can feel safe in the knowledge that Comodo will validate your application in accordance with the latest digital signature legislation pertaining to Qualified Certificates. This validation is done effectively and quickly, ensuring you need not wait the traditional 3 working days normally associated with a fully validated SSL Certificate. In many cases a certificate can be issued within a few hours.

InstantSSL boasts industry leading browser ubiquity - comparable to Verisign and Thawte, however without the costs associated with other SSL Providers. Instant SSL Certificates are compatible with over 99% of browsers - including Internet Explorer 5.00 and above, Netscape 4.5 and above, AOL 6 and above and Opera 5.00 and above.