When a website owner requests an SSL certificate, they must provide the CA with information about their identity and the website for which the certificate will be used. The CA then verifies the information provided by the website owner, which may include business registration documents, articles of incorporation, and other legal documents.
The CA also verifies that the website owner has control over the domain name for which the certificate is issued. This is done by sending an email to the domain’s administrative contact or by placing a special file on the website’s server. Once the CA is satisfied that the website owner is who they say they are and that they have control over the domain, the SSL certificate is issued.
The SSL certificate includes the website owner’s public key and the website’s domain name. When a user visits a website that has an SSL certificate, the web browser verifies the certificate and establishes an encrypted connection to the web server using the website’s public key.
SSL certificate authentication provides an additional layer of security by ensuring that the website is legitimate and not a phishing site designed to steal personal information. It also helps establish trust with website visitors and encourages them to enter sensitive information.