digital certificates
Electronic identity documents
Digital certificates are electronic credentials that verify identity and enable secure communication online.
They bind a public encryption key to an entity—a person, organization, or website—confirming that the key genuinely belongs to who it claims.
When you visit a secure website, your browser checks its digital certificate to ensure you're not connecting to an impostor.
Certificate authorities issue and vouch for these credentials, forming the backbone of internet security: The site's digital certificate had expired, triggering a browser warning.
- public keyShareable encryption component
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- private keyConfidential decryption credential
- SSLWeb encryption protocol
PKI · revocation · verifications · encryption · signing · TLS · HTTPS · security · data integrity · secure communication · man in the middle · electronic signatures · identity verification · end-to-end encryption · biometric authentication · expiration · public keys · steganography
digital certificatesvisual inspection
Examination by sight alone
passwords · shared secrets · security questions · honor system
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