How to Find Out Who Owns My SSL Certificate
By Nick Davis
A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is an Internet security protocol that protects your personal information including user names, passwords, credit card numbers and other confidential information you enter into websites. Data being sent by an SSL connection is encrypted, and each website contains a certificate that indicates it is using the SSL protocol. If you are unsure about a website's SSL owner, you can check to see who is listed as the owner of the SSL certificate and if the website is related to the owner/certificate.
Internet Explorer
Open Internet Explorer by clicking on the program's icon on your computer's desktop or by clicking "Start," "All Programs," and "Internet Explorer."
Click "Tools," then "Internet Options."
Click on the "Content" tab. Click the "Certificates" button. Click on the "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" tab.
Double-click on the SSL certificate you want to view owner information on. The owner's name is next to the wording "Issued by:".
Firefox
Open Firefox by clicking on the program's icon on your computer's desktop or by clicking "Start," "All Programs," and "Firefox."
Click "Tools," then "Options."
Click on the "Advanced" tab. Click on the "Encryption" tab. Click the "View Certificates" button.
Click on the "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" tab.
Click on the SSL certificate you want to view owner information about to select it. Click the "View" button. The owner's name is under the heading "Issued by."
Google Chrome
Open Google Chrome by clicking on the program's icon on your computer's desktop or by clicking "Start," "All Programs," and "Google Chrome."
Click "Options."
Click on the "Under the Hood" tab. Click the "Manage Certificates" button.
Double-click on the SSL certificate you want to view owner information about. The owner's name is next to the wording "Issued by:".
References
Tips
- If using Mac's Safari, SSL certificates are stored in the "Keychain Access" utility. Click on your Mac's hard drive icon. Select "Go," then "Utilities." Double-click "Keychain Access." Select "Help." Type the word "Certificates" in the search box to pull up all certificates on your Mac. Click on the certificate to view owner and related information.
Writer Bio
Nick Davis is a freelance writer specializing in technical, travel and entertainment articles. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and an associate degree in computer information systems from the State Technical Institute at Memphis. His work has appeared in "Elite Memphis" and "The Daily Helmsman" in Memphis, Tenn. He is currently living in Albuquerque, N.M.