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This article, written to address one of the most frequently wondered topics both in the context of high-security requiring online shopping platforms such as Hepsiburada and n11 and across the internet in general, aims to provide answers to both "What is SSL?" and "What is an SSL Security Certificate Used For?" questions.

The Turkish equivalent of SSL, which is also known as "Secure Socket Layer," is "Güvenli Giriş Katmanı" in Turkish. This security protocol ensures privacy and reliability, safeguarding personal security and privacy. How? SSL usage allows information transfer between the server and the client to take place encrypted during data transfer over the network.

Originally developed by Netscape, this standard algorithmic security protocol was renamed TLS (Transport Layer Security) in January 1999, and due to continuous development since then, it has become a security protocol in widespread use and support today in millions of web servers and all web browsers (such as Google Chrome and Firefox).

Known also as a Digital Security Certificate, SSL enhances both online banking and data transfers during online shopping, as well as securing user login information on the websites where these transactions occur. In recent times, due to an increasing need for information security, SSL has also been extensively used on platforms requiring personal membership information, such as forums and social media sites.

So, how does this protocol, which is of vital importance to us on the internet due to its provided benefits, work? The operation of the SSL protocol takes place through an encryption method dependent on the use of two given keys. One of these keys is located on the server side and is known as the "SSL Private Key." The other is on the client side and is known as the "SSL Public Key."

Only the other key can decrypt the data encrypted by one key. After your keys are generated (SSL does this process automatically, so no additional steps are needed), the SSL Private Key remains on the server while the SSL Public Key is sent to the person you want to establish a connection with. The recipient can securely deliver the message to you using the SSL Public Key. That's how the system works, in short.

Now that we've answered the question "What is SSL?" to some extent, let's proceed to understand the answer to the question "What is an SSL Security Certificate Used For?"

What is an SSL Security Certificate Used For?

Before answering the question "What is an SSL Security Certificate Used For?", let's briefly recap our knowledge about what SSL is and how it works.

As mentioned at the beginning of our article, SSL is a security protocol used on sites requiring membership, such as online shopping websites, forums, and social media platforms, to protect personal information by encrypting it.

The operation of the SSL protocol, which depends on the use of two keys (the 'SSL Private Key' on the server side and the 'SSL Public Key' on the client side), takes place through an encryption method. Thanks to this system, which allows only the other key to open the data encrypted by one key, you can communicate securely with the person in front of you and share data.

Now, let's move on to the answer to our question. Through an SSL certificate consisting of small data files that link the encryption key to an organization's server information in the digital realm, which we mentioned earlier in our article, only authorized recipients can access your sensitive information. This ensures that sensitive information can only be accessed by authorized recipients. If you're responsible for the administration of sites like the ones mentioned in the examples earlier in the article, you can use this feature of the certificate to protect the information accumulated on your servers from unwanted external access.

If you value your brand and reliability, through this certificate, you can both protect and increase the number of customers and members seeing your precautions, thus enhancing your success in e-commerce.

When it comes to the benefits of SSL certificates, besides the crucial encryption, another significant advantage is authentication. Yes, you heard that right. Thanks to this benefit, which ensures that personal information is sent to the correct server, you can prevent customers who perform a transaction using multiple computers within the same day from being deceived by malicious third parties.

But let's mention this before we finish. To effectively benefit from this advantage of your SSL certificate, you need to obtain it from a reliable SSL service provider. The reason for this is that the SSL certificates offered by these providers may vary in terms of the features they have within their structures.