With online security more important than ever, it’s essential to know whether a website is properly secured before sharing sensitive information like passwords or payment details. One of the easiest ways to verify security is by checking for a valid SSL certificate.
An SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts the connection between a browser and a website, ensuring that data cannot be intercepted or tampered with. But how can you tell if a website’s SSL certificate is valid and working correctly?
Here’s a detailed guide on the different methods you can use.
Look for the Padlock Icon in the Browser
The simplest way to check if a site has a valid SSL certificate is to look at the address bar of your browser.
✅ What to look for:
A padlock icon before the URL (e.g., 🔒
https://www.example.com)The website URL begins with HTTPS instead of HTTP
❌ Warning signs:
No padlock icon
A padlock with a red line or warning sign
“Not Secure” message in browsers like Chrome or Edge
Browsers like Chrome and Firefox now alert users when a website does not have a valid SSL certificate or is using HTTP only.
Click the Padlock to View Certificate Details
Clicking the padlock icon in your browser allows you to see certificate details, including:
Who issued the SSL certificate (e.g., Let’s Encrypt, DigiCert, Sectigo)
The validity period (start and expiration dates)
The domain the certificate covers
📌 Tip: If the certificate is expired, you’ll see an alert like “Certificate expired on…” which means the connection is no longer fully secure.
Use Online SSL Checker Tools
There are free tools that allow you to quickly verify whether a website’s SSL certificate is valid and properly configured:
SSL Labs’ SSL Test
Why No Padlock?
SSL Checker
Simply enter the website URL, and these tools will:
Confirm if the SSL is valid or expired
Check the encryption strength
Flag configuration issues like mixed content errors
Check the Site on Mobile Browsers
On mobile devices, the same rules apply:
Look for the padlock
Tap the icon to see certificate information
Some mobile browsers are even stricter, showing full screen warnings if an SSL certificate is expired or misconfigured.
Pay Attention to Browser Warnings
Modern browsers actively protect users from insecure sites. If you visit a site with:
An expired SSL certificate
A self signed certificate (not issued by a trusted Certificate Authority)
A mismatched domain name
You may see warnings like:
“Your connection is not private” (Chrome)
“Warning: Potential Security Risk Ahead” (Firefox)
These warnings mean you should not enter any sensitive information until the issue is resolved.
Check Certificate Expiration Dates
SSL certificates have expiration dates—usually 90 days (Let’s Encrypt) to 1–2 years for paid certificates.
When you click on the padlock and open “Certificate Details,” you’ll see:
Issued On: The date it was created
Expires On: The date it becomes invalid
📌 If the SSL certificate is close to expiration, website owners should renew it immediately to avoid downtime or browser warnings.
Look for Extended Validation (EV) or Organization Validated (OV) Indicators
Not all SSL certificates are the same:
Domain Validated (DV) – Basic security (padlock only)
Organization Validated (OV) – Shows the company name in certificate details
Extended Validation (EV) – Once displayed the company name in the address bar (now mostly inside certificate info)
Checking the type of SSL certificate can also tell you how much identity verification was done for that website.
A valid SSL certificate is one of the strongest indicators that a website takes security seriously. Whether you’re logging into an account, entering payment information, or just browsing, always check for:
The padlock icon
HTTPS in the URL
Valid and up to date certificate details
By taking a few seconds to confirm an SSL certificate, you protect yourself from data theft, phishing scams, and unsafe connections.