When you visit a website in the internet world, that small padlock icon you see to the left of the address bar is not just a decoration. If this icon is missing or you receive a "Not Secure" warning, your data on that site might be at risk.
As Whoiscan.com, in this article, we examine SSL, the modern internet's security standard, and why it is not just an option but a necessity for your domain.
What is SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that encrypts the data flow between the server and the visitor's browser.
To put it simply; when a visitor enters credit card information or a password on your site, this information is not sent to the server as plain text. Thanks to the SSL certificate, this data is transformed into a complex code sequence. Even if hackers intercept this data, they cannot read it without the encryption key.
The addresses of sites with active SSL certificates start with HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) instead of HTTP.
Why is SSL Mandatory for Your Domain?
Once considered necessary only for e-commerce sites, SSL has now become a standard even for the simplest blog sites. Here are 5 critical reasons to use SSL:
1. Google Ranking and SEO Effect
Google officially accepts HTTPS usage as a ranking signal. Between two similar contents, the site with an SSL certificate has the advantage of ranking higher in search results (SERP) compared to the other. If you want to increase your SEO performance, SSL should be your first step.
2. Getting Rid of the "Not Secure" Warning
Google Chrome and modern browsers display sites without an SSL certificate to visitors with a "Not Secure" label. A red warning text causes your visitors to feel uneasy the moment they enter your site and to leave immediately (increasing Bounce Rate).
3. User Trust and Brand Image
As you can see in the inquiries you make on Whoiscan.com, every professional domain uses the HTTPS protocol. When your visitors know their data is protected, they trust your brand more. The green padlock icon is a part of your digital prestige.
4. Data Integrity and Authentication
SSL not only encrypts data but also verifies that the data is going to the correct server. This provides an extra layer of protection for your site against "Phishing" attacks.
5. Data Protection & Legal Compliance
For websites that collect user data (contact forms, newsletter sign-ups, etc.), ensuring data security is a legal requirement. Under data protection laws (like GDPR), SSL is the primary technical measure required to protect data against cyber attacks.
What Are the Types of SSL Certificates?
There are three main types of SSL depending on your needs:
- DV (Domain Validation): The most common and fastest type to obtain. It only verifies domain ownership. Suitable for blogs and personal sites.
- OV (Organization Validation): It also verifies the physical existence of the institution. Provides medium-level security for companies.
- EV (Extended Validation): The highest level of security. Preferred by banks and large e-commerce sites.
In conclusion; when building a website, an SSL certificate is no longer a "nice-to-have" feature, but the cornerstone of your site. A safe internet experience starts at Whoiscan.com!