Digital certificate offers secure verification to users of PC based systems like email, software and Web programs. Digital certificates can be used as traditional username and password system for accessing blocked files.

Digital certificates are based on public-private key system acting like a lock and key. While having digital certificate, public key is freely available, while private key is reserved secret and is provided only to trusted recipients.

Meaning

Digital certificate is a PC-based file that checks credentials of personals and organizations whiel accessing data and doing transactions on internet.

Components

Major contents of digital certificate have serial number of certificate, version number of certificate, signature algorithm identifier, issuer of digital certificate, validity period, public key information and validity period. These parts depend on standards set up by ISO and adopted by Internet Engineering Task Force and American National Standards Institute.

Function

Major purpose of a digital certificate is to make sure that a user transmitting a file or message is who she/he claims to be. And also, digital IDs offer higher degree of security by encrypting messages so only particular recipients can access it.

Application

Digital certificates are part of most security protocols enforced by software publishers, e-businesses, e-libraries and all PC-based applications needing authentication. For example, ,many browsers save digital certificates of trusted authorities so that while visiting websites, it checks that you are visiting correct website and notifies while certificate presented is invalid.

Limitations

While installing or downloading something, PC notifies when file has no digital certificate. However, even if file is digitally signed, certificate doesn't assure that software will work properly. And also, digital certificate has a validity period.

Obtaining Digital Certificate

A third-party is formally called Certificate Authority issues digital certificates for a small charge. CA gathers all required data that checks identity and after completing process, sends instructions about how to install, use and save digital certificate.