What is SSL Certificate
SSL Certificate helps consumers and businesses be more confident and responsible when submitting personal details over a web site. For example, if you sell something online and you process credit card information or other confidential information, then you are in a need of SSL encryption for the data you transmit between a client on your web site and the server hosting your site. Data sent via an SSL connection is protected by encryption (128 or 256 bit key), a mechanism that prevents eavesdropping and tampering with the transmitted data.
How SSL Works? (view)
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is cryptographic protocol encrypted with 128 or 256 bit key that provides secure connection between a browser and a server (where your web site is hosted). Any data sent between the browser and your web site is encrypted before sending and then decrypted after being received with this 128 or 256 bit key issued especially for you. SSL certificate is issued by a trusted authority like RapidSSL or GeoTrust or and installed specifically for single hostname of your web site (e.g. https://secure.domain.com) where you need encrypted connection. In that way all the data transmitted between the hostname where your client is submitting personal details and the server (where you web site resides) is encrypted and signed as secured by this trusted SSL issuer authority. The presence of a SSL (https:// valid connection) on your web site increases the confidence of your web site’s visitors.
What is Wildcard SSL?
Ordinary, once SSL certificates are issued they are signed to secure one single hostname of your domain (e.g. secure.domain.com.) Some web site owners, however, need more than one hostname to be secured with a SSL. In this case they have to buy each hostname a separate SSL certificate.
Wildcard is a type of SSL that allows securing multiple hostnames of a single domain name on a single server. This is how you conveniently may use one SSL certificate (Wildcard) for all subdomains (*.domain.com). The drawback with a Wildcard certificate is its price, several times exceeding the price of regular SSL certificate. The advantage of this type of certificate is the fact you have to install and later on maintain only a single SSL certificate. Wildcard SSL certificates are appropriate for large organizations or e-commerce web sites.
