SSL - Web Server Encryption

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption provides a level of security and privacy for those wishing to conduct secure transactions over the Internet. Introduced by Netscape Communications, the SSL protocol protects HTTP transmissions over the Internet by adding a layer of encryption. This insures that your transactions are not subject to "sniffing" by a third party. For companies wishing to conduct E-Commerce, such as receiving credit card numbers or other sensitive information, SSL is a must.

SSL is normally used in tandem with a Digital Certificate. A Digital Certificate gives your customers the assurance that your web site is legitimately yours and not that of an impostor. It contains information about who owns the certificate (company name, domain name, contact address, etc) as well as information about the issuing Certificate Authority (GeoTrust -- see our Special Offer, VeriSign, etc). It also provides you with a legal basis to perform transactions on the Internet.

Installation

To add SSL encryption capabilities to your Virtual Private Server, Contact Our Support Staff.

Using SSL

You can access all of the web content on your Virtual Private Server (documents, images, scripts, etc) via SSL by using the https:// prefix rather than the http:// prefix. For example, your secure web site can be accessed like this:

https://YOUR-DOMAIN.NAME/

You can send the data collected by a form on your web site to a CGI script via SSL by including something like this in form page HTML:

<form method="POST" action="https://YOUR-DOMAIN.NAME/cgi-bin/script.cgi">

Be sure that you do not reference embedded document content (images, etc) insecurely by using the http:// prefix, like this:

<img src="http://YOUR-DOMAIN.NAME/image.gif">

It is possible to use SSL in conjunction with other Internet protocols.

• Accessing Virtual Private Server E-Mail Via SSL

More Information

For technical documentation of SSL, see:

• Introduction to Public Key Cryptography