What is an SSL Lookup?
An SSL Lookup is a tool that retrieves and displays information about SSL/TLS certificates installed on web servers. It connects to a domain on a specified port (usually 443) and extracts certificate data such as the issuer, expiration date, organization, and certificate validity status.
Why Check SSL Certificates?
- Expiration Monitoring: Know when certificates expire before they do
- Security Verification: Ensure proper encryption is in place
- Compliance: Meet security requirements and standards
- Trust Validation: Verify trusted certificate authorities
- Troubleshooting: Diagnose SSL/TLS connection issues
Understanding Certificate Details
- Common Name (CN): The domain the certificate is issued for
- Organization: Company name requesting the certificate
- Issued Date: When the certificate became active
- Expiry Date: When the certificate will expire
- Signature Type: Encryption algorithm used (RSA, ECDSA, etc.)
- Certificate Authority: Trusted entity that issued the cert
How to Use This Tool
- Enter the domain name (e.g., example.com)
- Specify the port (usually 443 for HTTPS)
- Click "Lookup Certificate"
- Review the certificate details
- Check expiration date and validity
Best Practices
- Renew certificates 30 days before expiration
- Use certificates from trusted CAs
- Monitor all domains regularly
- Keep certificate backups safe
- Update to stronger encryption algorithms