Do you know about website certificates?

Overview

Did you know that when you enter a website address in your browser, you might actually be communicating with a server that is not the legitimate owner of the website you intended to visit? To prevent this, websites need to use something called website certificates to authenticate their identity and establish trust.

Contents 

What are Website Certificates?

Why Website Certificates are Important for Website Security?

How to Identify and Avoid Untrusted Certificates?

How to Use MetroVPN for Secure Browsing?

What are Website Certificates?

Website certificates are digital files that contain information about a website , such as its name, domain, owner, location, and more. This information is verified and issued by a third-party organization called a Certificate Authority (CA). Certificate Authorities are trusted entities responsible for inspecting and verifying the authenticity and legitimacy of websites. Once a website has a valid certificate, it can use the HTTPS protocol for encrypted communication with users. HTTPS is a secure network protocol that ensures data is not intercepted or tampered with during transmission. You can determine if a website uses HTTPS by looking for a lock icon or the "https://" prefix in the browser's address bar.

Why Website Certificates are Important for Website Security?

Website certificates are crucial for website security as they help prevent common attacks such as phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks. Phishing is a deceptive technique that exploits fake web pages or emails to trick users into entering sensitive information like usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, etc. A man-in-the-middle attack is an interception technique where an attacker uses a fake server to eavesdrop or manipulate the communication between a user and the legitimate website. Without a valid certificate or HTTPS protocol, users are more susceptible to falling victim to these attacks.

How to Identify and Avoid Untrusted Certificates?

Identifying and avoiding untrusted certificates is not difficult if you keep the following points in mind:

① Check the browser address bar icon

Look for a lock icon or the "https://" prefix in the browser address bar. If absent, the website may not be using HTTPS, indicating it lacks a valid certificate.

② Examine detailed information

Click on the lock icon or the "https://" prefix to view the certificate details. If the displayed information does not match the website you intended to visit, or if the certificate has expired or been revoked, it may be a forged or invalid certificate.

③ Heed warning messages

If your browser displays a warning message stating that the website's certificate is problematic or untrusted, it's best to avoid accessing the site or exercise caution when entering any sensitive information.

④ Utilize online tools

If you have doubts about the authenticity or legitimacy of a website, you can use online tools to check the validity and reliability of its certificate. For example, you can utilize SSL Labs ( https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/ ) to test a website's SSL configuration and certificate quality.

How to Use MetroVPN for Secure Browsing?

In addition to the above points, you can also use MetroVPN to protect your online browsing. MetroVPN is an excellent VPN service that allows you to anonymously and securely access any website on the internet. When you use MetroVPN , your network traffic is encrypted and routed through a remote server , preventing monitoring or tracking. MetroVPN can also help you bypass regional restrictions or censorship , granting you the freedom to browse global content. With high-speed and stable connections , MetroVPN supports various platforms and devices , including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.