What are Digital Certificates?

A digital certificate refers to an electronic document issued by a CA (Electronic Authentication Service) agency. It is a series of numbers that can indicate the identity of network users. It provides a way to verify the identity of network users on a computer network. Is a digital ID. Digital certificates ensure the integrity and security of information and data in the form of encryption or decryption for network users' information and data in computer network communication.

The term digital certificate is not original in China, but a translation from English digital certificate. A digital certificate is essentially an electronic document.

The basic architecture of a digital certificate is

Digital certificates have the following three characteristics: ^[2]

The user needs to log in before the China Digital Certificate Authentication Network. If it is the first time to log in, the system will automatically prompt the user to install

The issuance of a digital certificate is the user's

1.Secure email

The use of digital certificates in e-mail can construct a secure e-mail certificate. The main user encrypts the transmission of e-mail and protects the security of e-mail during transmission and reception. The secure e-mail certificate mainly includes the signature, the e-mail address, and the public key of the certificate holder's CA organization. On the one hand, the combination of digital certificates and e-mail can realize the secure transmission and reception of e-mail under the protection of secure e-mail certificate encryption and digital signature technology, ensuring the security and integrity of e-mail. At the same time, the authenticity of the information of the sender and receiver of the email is also guaranteed. On the other hand, including the public key information in a secure email certificate ensures that the email is not altered, because email can only be used if the public key is known. ^[3]

2.Secure terminal protection

With the development of computer network technology, the development of e-commerce is getting faster and faster, and it is becoming more and more widely used in people's lives and productions, and the security issues of user terminals and data have been increasingly valued. In order to prevent the terminal data from being damaged or leaked, a digital certificate, as an encryption technology, can be used for terminal protection. ^[3]

First, use genuine software and hardware to properly configure the system and network and check regularly to prevent terminal configuration from being tampered illegally. Second, use network security technologies such as firewalls to substantially isolate internal and external networks. At the same time, the virus database and anti-virus software are updated in a timely manner, and the terminal system is scanned for viruses and security vulnerabilities in real time to strengthen the security protection of the terminal system. Once suspicious information is found, it should be monitored immediately to prevent its impact and damage. Finally, strengthen the control of access terminals, and use information encryption and authentication to make it more difficult to crack information. Users can set up a system login method based on digital certificates, plus dynamic encryption, to achieve system authentication. Users without permissions cannot access the terminal system, and users with permissions meet the access requirements. Ensure the consistency of the access terminal. In addition, the terminal network and the main network must be separated to reduce data crossover and combination between the two. It also avoids the interaction between the terminal network and the main network and reduces risks. ^[3]

3.Code signing protection

For many users, the promotion of network information is convenient and economical, but the security of the software is uncertain. For example, when users share software, there are many insecure factors in the process of receiving and using the software. Even if the software vendor can guarantee the security of the software itself, it cannot resist the insecurity caused by pirated software and the network itself. Adverse effects. ^[3]

4.Trusted website services

With the development of computer network technology, the number of Chinese websites has shown an increasing trend. There are more and more malicious websites, phishing websites, and counterfeit websites, which increases the difficulty for users to identify them. Leaking its own data information seriously affects the security of the network. When users have doubts about the website used and are not sure whether it has been tampered with or attacked, they can take advantage of digital certificate technology. With digital certificate technology, you can verify and check uncertain websites first, increasing the probability of using secure websites, and avoiding network losses caused by malicious websites, phishing websites, and fake websites. ^[3]

5. Identity authorization management

Authorization management system is an important part of information system security. It provides users and programs with corresponding authorization services, authorization access and application methods. Digital certificates must be authorized and managed through the computer network before being applied. Therefore, the security of identity authorization management tools must be guaranteed. When the two sides of the system agree with each other, the work of the identity authorization system can begin. At the same time, the correct use of digital certificates, proper authorization, and completion of system user authentication can effectively protect the security of the identity authorization management system. ^[3]