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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 (VeriSign, Thawte, etc).
It also provides you with a legal basis to perform transactions
on the Internet.
Installation
Ordering SSL for your Virtual Private Servers is easy. There is
a nominal Setup Fee required. No monthly charges are applicable.
Using SSL
You can access all of the web content on your Virtual Private Servers (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/
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NOTE: Thawte Web Server Certificates for Netscape
3.x and Internet Explorer 3.x web browsers expired on July
31, 1998. For more information and instructions about updating
a Thawte Web Server Certificate, see:
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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.
More Information
For technical documentation of SSL, see:
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