SSL Generation and Installation
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Articles on the basics behind SSL certificates: how encryption and hashing work, the TLS handshake and the trust chain, mTLS, SSH versus SSL/TLS, self-signed certificates, CER and CRT files, port 8080, and whether a content website needs SSL.
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1Symmetric vs. Asymmetric Encryption: What's the Difference?
Compare symmetric and asymmetric encryption: keys, speed and key sizes, which one is more secure and how every HTTPS connection uses both.
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2SSH vs. SSL/TLS: What's the Difference?
SSH secures server access and SSL/TLS secures websites. Compare how each proves identity, why SSH needs no SSL certificate and SFTP vs FTPS.
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3What Is a Self-Signed SSL Certificate and How to Create One
Learn when a self-signed certificate is fine, what the risks are, how to create one with OpenSSL including subjectAltName and how to trust it.
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4What Is Port 8080? How It Differs from Ports 80 and 443
Learn what port 8080 is used for, how it differs from ports 80 and 443, how to protect it with SSL and why CAs don't validate domains on it.
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5Hashing vs. Encryption: What's the Difference?
Hashing is one-way and encryption is two-way. See how each works, which hash algorithms are safe today and how both protect HTTPS and code signing.
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6CER vs. CRT: What's the Difference and How to Convert
CER and CRT files hold the same SSL certificate. Learn why PEM or DER encoding is what matters and how to change .cer to .crt the right way.
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7What Is mTLS? How Mutual TLS Differs from TLS
Learn how mutual TLS works, where mTLS is used and where to get client certificates now that public SSL certificates are becoming server-only.
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8Certificate Authorities and the Trust Chain
Learn how Certificate Authorities, root certificates, and intermediate certificates form the SSL trust chain — and why a missing link breaks trust.
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9Do I need SSL for simple content website
Learn whether a simple content website or blog needs an SSL certificate, and which certificate type fits best.
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10SSL/TLS Handshake: How It Works Step by Step
See each step of the TLS 1.3 handshake, how it differs from TLS 1.2, where your SSL certificate fits in and how to fix common handshake errors.
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