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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
digital certificate
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A quick definition of digital certificate:
A digital certificate is like a special ID card for your computer that helps keep your online information safe. It shows who you are and that you can be trusted when you send important documents or messages over the internet. It also has a secret code that only you and the person you're sending the message to can read, so nobody else can see it. Think of it like a secret handshake between you and your friend that nobody else knows!
A more thorough explanation:
A digital certificate is a computer-based record that identifies the certifying authority and the subscriber who was issued a digital signature for electronically transmitted documents. It provides the person's public key for decrypting the digital signature.
For example, when you visit a website that has a digital certificate, your browser will verify that the certificate was issued by a trusted authority and that the website is who it claims to be. This helps to ensure that your personal information, such as your credit card number, is kept secure.
Subscribers register with certification authorities to obtain digital signatures. Certificates may include additional information, such as issuance and expiration dates, and recommended reliance limits for transactions relying on the certificate. The certificate also serves as an electronic notarization when attached to an electronic document by the sender.
Overall, digital certificates are important for ensuring the security and authenticity of electronic transactions and communications.