Where Websites Come To Life
What is Extended SSL?
Posted: May 14th, 2018
Extended SSL Certificates are characterized by a high level of validation, for which the authenticity of your business will be verified. In the browser bar this is highlighted by the lock symbol and the distinctive green color. It is also clearly visible that the certificate has been issued on your company name.
Extended Validation Certificate Verification
During verification of an EV SSL Certificate, the owner of the website passes a thorough and globally standardized identity verification process (a set of vetting principles and policies ratified by the CA/Browser forum) to prove exclusive rights to use a domain, confirm its legal, operational and physical existence, and prove the entity has authorized the issuance of the certificate. This verified identity information is included within the certificate, with some pieces, including business name and country, presented directly in the browser window.
The verification process for OV and DV certificates is not as comprehensive, with DV certificates only requiring proof that the website owner could demonstrate administrative control over the domain. OV certificates include some identity information about the site operator, but it is not as extensive as EV and it is not as prominently displayed in the browser. In order to see your company’s identity information, visitors need to view the certificate details.
Extended Validation Certificate UI
Like DV and OV, EV SSL Certificates also activate HTTPS and the padlock in browser address bars, but EV stands out because it presents the name of the verified website owner as well. Prominently displaying the verified company name helps distinguish the site from phishing or impostor sites. The added cost and time spent in verification makes it harder for a phishing website to obtain an EV level certificate, meaning your web visitors can use this (amongst other factors) as an indicator of trust. Visitors can have greater trust that the website is actually run by your company and feel safer conducting communication and financial transactions.
Benefits of Using an EV SSL Certificate
Phishing, or imposter, websites continue to be a major threat to legitimate websites and online services. Recently, phishers have started using DV certificates (usually acquired from free SSL service that lack adequate phishing checks) to help their sites look more trustworthy and trick unsuspecting victims into submitting financial or personal information. This is a growing problem and emphasizes the need for verified identities online. Visitors need reasonable assurance of the identity of the business they are dealing with, enough that they can feel safer conducting online transactions.
EV SSL helps combat this issue by bringing the site operator’s verified identity front and center on the website – displaying it directly in address bar.
Benefits of Using an EV SSL Certificate
Phishing, or imposter, websites continue to be a major threat to legitimate websites and online services. Recently, phishers have started using DV certificates (usually acquired from free SSL service that lack adequate phishing checks) to help their sites look more trustworthy and trick unsuspecting victims into submitting financial or personal information. This is a growing problem and emphasizes the need for verified identities online. Visitors need reasonable assurance of the identity of the business they are dealing with, enough that they can feel safer conducting online transactions.
EV SSL helps combat this issue by bringing the site operator’s verified identity front and center on the website – displaying it directly in address bar.
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