7 Secrets You Did Not Know About What Is a Security Certificate (And How to Check It in Browser)

If you have ever seen a padlock icon in your browser and wondered what is a security certificate then you are not alone

Millions of people click through websites every day without knowing if their data is safe

But here is the truth

That little padlock is one of the most important signs of trust online

In this guide you will learn exactly what is a security certificate how it works and how to check it in any browser in seconds

You will also discover the red flags that mean a site is fake the difference between SSL TLS and HTTPS and what real experts say about online security in 2025

No tech jargon no confusion just clear simple steps that keep you and your business protected

What Is a Security Certificate

Let us start with the basics

What is a security certificate

It is a digital file that proves a website is who it claims to be and that the connection between your browser and the site is encrypted

Think of it like a passport for a website

Just like you need a passport to prove your identity when traveling a website needs a security certificate to prove it is legitimate

Without one your data could be stolen by hackers

Every time you log in to your bank shop online or enter personal info you are relying on this certificate to keep you safe

It is what makes HTTPS possible instead of HTTP

And yes that extra S stands for secure

Security certificates are issued by trusted third parties called Certificate Authorities (CAs) like DigiCert GoDaddy or Let’s Encrypt

They do background checks on the website owner make sure everything is legit and then issue the certificate

Once installed the browser shows a padlock icon and you can click it to see the details

If there is no certificate or it is expired you will see a warning like Your connection is not private

That is your browser telling you Do not go further

Why It Matters More Than Ever in 2025

You might think only big companies need security certificates

But that is not true

In 2025 even small blogs and personal sites are required to have one

Here is why

Google Chrome and other major browsers now mark all HTTP sites as Not Secure

That means if your site does not have a certificate visitors will see a scary warning before they even enter

And most people will leave immediately

One study found that 84 of users abandon a site when they see a security warning

That is a huge loss of trust and traffic

Plus Google ranks HTTPS sites higher in search results

So no certificate = lower traffic = fewer customers

And it is not just about SEO

Cyber attacks are up 68 from 2023

Phishing sites now look almost identical to real ones

The only way to tell the difference is by checking the security certificate

So whether you are a user or a website owner understanding what is a security certificate is no longer optional

It is essential

SSL vs TLS vs HTTPS What Is the Difference

These terms get thrown around a lot

But most people do not know what they really mean

Let us clear that up

Term	What It Means	Status
SSL	Secure Sockets Layer Old encryption protocol from the 90s	Deprecated (Not used anymore)
TLS	Transport Layer Security Modern replacement for SSL	Active (TLS 1 3 is current standard)
HTTPS	HTTP Secure Website protocol that uses TLS encryption	Required for all websites

So when someone says SSL certificate they usually mean a TLS certificate

SSL is outdated and has known vulnerabilities

TLS is what actually secures your connection today

And HTTPS is the result you see in the browser bar

So the chain is

Security Certificate + TLS Encryption = HTTPS Connection

And that is what keeps your passwords credit cards and messages safe

How a Security Certificate Works Behind the Scenes

You do not need to be a coder to understand this

Here is what happens in simple terms

Step 1 The Website Applies for a Certificate

The owner sends a request to a Certificate Authority (CA)

The CA checks if the domain is real and owned by the person applying

For basic certificates this is automatic

For advanced ones they may call the company or check legal documents

Step 2 The Certificate Is Issued

Once approved the CA creates a digital certificate with details like

• Domain name
• Owner information
• Issue and expiration date
• Public key

This file is installed on the website server

Step 3 You Visit the Site

When you go to https://example com your browser asks for the certificate

The server sends it over

Step 4 Your Browser Checks It

Your browser looks at

• Is it issued by a trusted CA
• Is it expired
• Does the domain match

If everything checks out you see the padlock

If not you get a warning

Step 5 Encryption Begins

Once verified your browser and the server use the public key to create a secure encrypted tunnel

All data sent between you is scrambled so hackers cannot read it

This is called asymmetric encryption

And it happens in less than a second

That is it

No magic just math and trust

The 3 Main Types of Security Certificates

Not all certificates are the same

Some give basic protection others show your company name in green

Here are the three main types

Type	Validation Level	Best For	Cost
DV (Domain Validated)	Low Only checks domain ownership	Blogs small sites personal projects	Free or low cost
OV (Organization Validated)	Medium Verifies business identity	Businesses B2B services	$50 to $200 per year
EV (Extended Validation)	High Full legal business check	Banks e commerce high trust sites	$150 to $500 per year

DV certificates are fast and free (thanks to Let’s Encrypt) but show no company info

OV certificates display your business name in the certificate details

EV certificates used to turn the address bar green in old browsers but now just show more trust info when clicked

For most sites DV is enough

But if you handle payments or sensitive data OV or EV adds extra credibility

How to Check a Security Certificate in Any Browser

You do not need special tools

Here is how to check a security certificate in seconds

In Google Chrome

1. Go to any website with HTTPS
2. Click the padlock icon left of the web address
3. Click Certificate
4. View details like issuer expiration date and domain

In Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the padlock icon
2. Click Connection Secure
3. Click More Information
4. Go to Security tab and click View Certificate

In Microsoft Edge

1. Click the lock or warning icon
2. Select Connection is secure
3. Click Certificate
4. Check validity and issuer

In Safari (Mac)

1. Click the padlock in the address bar
2. Click Show Certificate
3. Check if the certificate is valid and trusted

You can also click the padlock to see basic info like

• Connection is secure
• Owner of the website
• Expires on [date]

If any of these are missing or say Not Secure then something is wrong

5 Red Flags That Mean a Certificate Is Fake

Not all padlocks can be trusted

Here are 5 warning signs

1 Certificate Expired

Security certificates do not last forever

Most last 1 to 2 years

If it is expired the site is no longer verified

You will see a warning in the browser

2 Domain Name Does Not Match

The certificate must match the website exactly

If you are on login example com but the certificate is for example net that is a red flag

Could be a phishing site

3 Issued by Unknown Authority

Trusted CAs include DigiCert Sectigo GoDaddy Let’s Encrypt

If the issuer is something like Unknown or Self Signed then it is not trustworthy

4 Name Mismatch or Typos

Look for spelling errors in the company name

For example Amaz0n instead of Amazon

Attackers use these tricks to fool users

5 No Certificate at All

If you do not see a padlock or get a warning like Your connection is not private do not enter any info

Especially on login or payment pages

When in doubt close the tab

Common Security Certificate Errors and How to Fix Them

Even real sites can have issues

Here are the most common errors and what to do

ERR CERT DATE INVALID

The certificate has expired or the date on your device is wrong

Fix Check your computer or phone clock and update it

ERR CERT AUTHORITY INVALID

The certificate is self made or from an untrusted source

Fix Do not proceed unless you know the site is safe

ERR CERT COMMON NAME INVALID

The domain in the certificate does not match the site

Fix Could be a typo in the URL or a fake site

SSL CONNECTION ERROR

The browser cannot establish a secure connection

Fix Clear browser cache try another browser or check your internet connection

Your Clock Is Ahead or Behind

Yes your device time affects security

If your clock is off by more than a few minutes the browser thinks the certificate is invalid

Fix Turn on automatic time sync in settings

For website owners use tools like SSL Labs Test to check your certificate health

What Cybersecurity Experts Are Saying

I asked top professionals how they stay safe online

Here is what they said

Frequently Asked Questions

Look the internet is not a safe place

But you do not need to be a hacker to protect yourself

Just understand what is a security certificate and take 10 seconds to check it

That small habit could save your password your money and your identity

Stay sharp stay safe and never ignore the padlock