Your private key is a critical part of your SSL certificate. It plays a key role in:
- Authenticating your website to users.
- Enabling encryption for secure communication.
- Preventing unauthorized impersonation of your website.
Protecting your private key is essential. If it is lost or compromised, it can result in:
- Security breaches and data theft.
- Website impersonation and phishing attacks.
- The need to replace your SSL certificate.
Important Notes:
Neither The SSL Store nor the Certificate Authority (CA) has access to your private key at any stage.
The private key must stay securely stored on the server where it was generated.
Never share your private key with anyone.
If lost, you will need to generate a new CSR and private key, then reissue your SSL certificate.
Generating a Private Key
- A private key is created along with the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) as part of a Key Pair.
- Depending on your system, you may need to save the key manually in a secure location.
- The private key must be stored securely before uploading the CSR to your server.
- For best security practices:
- Store your private key on an external hardware token.
- Keep it in a safe location to prevent unauthorized access.
What Happens if My Private Key is Compromised?
- If compromised but not misused, you must replace your SSL certificate immediately.
- If compromised and misused, attackers can:
- Spoof your website.
- Launch phishing attacks.
- Steal sensitive data from users.
How Does a Private Key Work with SSL?
- During the SSL handshake process, the private key works with its corresponding public key to authenticate the server.
- When a user visits your website:
- Their browser decrypts the digital signature created by your private key using the public key.
- If verified, a secure connection is established.
How Does a Private Key Work for Code Signing?
- The private key applies a digital signature to software or executables.
- When a user downloads the software:
- Their system verifies the authenticity of the publisher using the associated public key.
- This ensures the integrity and legitimacy of the code.
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