SSL/TLS Certificate

What is SSL/TLS Certificate?

TLS, Transport Layer Security, is the protocol that encrypts web traffic. The IETF's RFC 8446 specifies TLS 1.3 and says its design aims to prevent eavesdropping, tampering and message forgery, though the page notes a newer RFC has since replaced it. SSL is the older name that stuck. A website installs a certificate issued by an authority, and the browser checks it when the page loads.

The padlock shows that the connection is encrypted and the name matches. It does not say the site's owner is honest.

Why does it matter on a fixed wireless connection?

On your home link, the traffic between your computer and a secure site is encrypted from end to end, so the radio path to the tower carries scrambled data. That is a property of the website, not of the wireless service. If you host a website or mail service with the company, a certificate for your domain is part of running it. The company has not published how it issues certificates, so ask when you call.

A browser warning about an expired certificate often comes from a wrong clock on the computer or a site that did not renew. See SSL certificates in plain words.

What should I do about it?

If you see a warning for a site you know, check the date and time on your device first. Do not click through a warning on a bank, a payment page or a login. For your own site, renew before the date and make sure the www and the bare name are both covered.

Our guide website hosting basics for a Nevada business shows where it fits. Call 775-575-9593 for a hosting question.