Today’s Top 10 MP3 Earbuds or Earphones

I have Today’s Top Ten Mp3 earbuds or earphones that are sure to bring you great satisfaction.

#1 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

JBuds J2 Premium Hi-FI Noise Isolating Earbuds (White/Gray)

# 2 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

Altec UHP326NP Lansing Backbeat Titanium Noise Isolating Earphones

# 3 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

Elecom Dynamic Sound Canal Type Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds(Designed in Japan) 230 Series (Black)

# 4 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit In-ear Earphone

# 5 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

JBuds J3 Micro Atomic In-Ear Earphones with Travel Case (Jet Black) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

# 6 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

Skullcandy Chops Hanger Earbuds (Black and Chrome)

# 7 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

JBuds J3M Micro Atomic In-Ear Earphones with Microphone (Jet Black, iPhone Compatible)

# 8 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

Panasonic RP-HC55-S Headphone (Silver)

# 9 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

Altec Lansing UHP326 Backbeat Series In Ear Headphone with Ultimate Ears technology

# 10 – From My Top Ten Earbud List

Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (White)

This article will help the reader better understand (1) Why do I need to buy a SSL Certificate? and (2) Once I buy a SSL Certificate, How Secure Socket Layers (SSL Certificates) Work.

Why do I need to Buy a SSL Certificate?

There are a few reasons as to why you would want to buy a secure socket layer or SSL Certificate.

• you have an online store or accept online orders and credit cards
• you offer a login or sign in on your site
• you process sensitive data such as address, birth date, license, or ID numbers
• you need to comply with privacy and security requirements
• you value privacy and expect others to trust you

Secure Socket Layers (SSL Certificates) and the technology behind SSL Certificates protect your website and makes it easy for your visitors to trust you, especially when you expect them to buy from your site. If you sell products or services online or pass data across the internet, you should buy a SSL Certificate for your site.

Once you buy a SSL certificate your data will be encrypted during online transactions. When an individual or business buys a SSL Certificate for their website, the SSL Certificate will hold important information – authenticated information – about the individual or business and provides the comsumer (person surfing the web) with a better understanding of who the site owner is and how they are protecting their data during transactions. If an individual or business buys a SSL Certificate, a Certificate Authority verifies the buyer’s identity.

The Internet is loaded with companies that sell SSL Certificates for people who are looking to buy SSL Certificates for the purpose of protecting their website, data, and customer information. And there are many options when purchasing a SSL certificate. Some of the best priced plans I found, come from a company called www.performancehost.net. They offer all types of products and have 24/7 support. I host this blog through them and have several other sites that I have built in the past hosted through them. So far their customer service has been great and they are always available when I need them the most.

How Secure Socket Layers (SSL Certificates) Work

When an individual or business buys a SSL Certificate the SSL Certificate establishes a private communication channel enabling encryption of the data during transmission. Encryption scrambles the data, essentially creating an envelope for message privacy. Each SSL Certificate you buy consists of a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt information and the private key is used to decipher it. When a Web browser points to a secured domain, a Secure Sockets Layer handshake authenticates the server (Web site) and the client (Web browser). An encryption method is established with a unique session key and secure transmission can begin. True 128-bit and 256-bit SSL Certificates enable every site visitor to experience the strongest SSL encryption available to them.

Why Does Authentication Matter?

When you buy a SSL Certificate it is issued by a trusted source, known as the Certificate Authority (CA). Many CAs simply verify the domain name and issue the certificate. verifies the existence of your business, the ownership of your domain name, and your authority to apply for the certificate, a higher standard of authentication.

PerformanceHost.net’s Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates meet the highest standard in the Internet security industry for Web site authentication as required by CA/Browser Forum. PerformanceHost.net’s EV SSL Certificates give high-security Web browsers information to clearly display a Web site’s organizational identity. The high-security Web browser’s address bar turns green and reveals the name of the organization that owns the SSL Certificate and the SSL Certificate Authority that issued it. Because PerformanceHost.net uses Starfield Technologies, the most recognized name in online security, PerformanceHost.net’s SSL Certificates with Extended Validation will give Web site visitors an easy and reliable way to establish trust online.

PerformanceHost.net SSL Certificates prices compared to other companies

Increase Your Sales by Accepting Credit Cards

So, you’re in the market to sell online. That’s great! Here is a snip from an article By Karen Talley of the DOW JONES NEWSWIRES: DECEMBER 28, 2009, 4:24 P.M. ET

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)–Online retail sales rose 13.6% from Black Friday to Christmas Eve, as retailers took major steps to make the Internet a prime shopping destination, according to data released Monday. Considerable amounts of buying on the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, as well as the following Monday, known as CyberMonday, and late in the season along with one extra day of shopping this year allowed the significant advance following last year’s poor holiday season, said Coremetrics, which released the figures. Shoppers were even buying on Christmas day, when sales rose 16% from the year before. But Christmas Eve saw a 0.7% drop and online sales fell 8.2% the day after Christmas, Coremetrics said.

So with all the hype that is taking place online – now is a great time to get into the online retail business. I’ve been doing some research for you with regard to processing credit cards through your website and have found a few companies that offer a great solution to credit card processing and merchant services. There are many companies that sell merchant services or credit card processing services for a substantial amount of money, but you don’t have to be taken to the cleaners by them, there are other companies that offer credit card processing for an affordable price. There are literally thousands of companies and websites online that provide merchant services and credit card processing. Below is a list of companies and their websites to provide you with an understanding of how credit card processing and merchant services work and how to start accepting credit cards on your website or for your business.

1. PerformanceHost.net – Merchant Services

Okay, let’s start with the merchant service and credit card processing company www.performancehost.net – merchant services. They really do make it easy for customers to pay for your products and services by helping you set up your website to accept credit cards! A Performance Host Merchant Account makes e-business simple. Our Merchant Account will help you Increase sales, cut paperwork and reduce risk – our partners authorize credit card purchases, process them and deposit the proceeds into your account. It really is that simple!

PerformanceHost.net offers three types of merchant services and credit card processing solutions.

A. Standard U.S. Merchant Account

• application fee  $59.99
• discount rate of 2.59%
• per-transaction fee  of $0.35
• monthly fee of $20.00

B. Specialty Merchant Account

• application fee  $198.99
• discount rate starting at 2.39%
• per-transaction fee starting at $0.30
• monthly fee of $20.00

C. International Merchant Account (includes Canadian based companies)

• application fee $694.99
• discount rate starting at 4.95%
• per-transaction fee starting at $0.40
• Canadian discount rate: 2.99%
• Canadian per-transaction fee: $0.24
• Monthly Fee: $20.00

To view the rates on the performancehost.net site, here is a direct link to www.performancehost.net – merchant services

2. Paypal Merchant Services and Credit Card Processing

Paypal Merchant Services and Credit Card Processing offers a unique style of selling to your customers and offers several merchant services.  I’ve provided you with an overview of what you can expect from the Paypal Merchant Services.

A. Accept credit cards on your website with Website Payments Pro. Your customers don’t even need a Paypal Account.

• $30 monthly fee
• No gateway fee
• No monthly minimum
• No downgrade fees
• No early termination penalty
• No fees on refunds

Website Payment Pro – Pricing

Your Monthly Sales         Fee Per-Transaction                     Examples

Paypal also offers merchant solutions for personal credit card processing (just in case you’re not a business). Visit Paypal today by clicking on the banner ad you see directly below this text.

3. Merchant Express – Merchant Services and Credit Card Processing

My third choice in Merchant Services and online credit card processing is a company called Merchant Express. They offer a fair rate and have many solutions to meet your needs. here are some of their merchant processing solutions.

A. Internet Merchant Services

• Internet Discount Rate: 2.27%
• Internet Transaction/Batch Fee: 0.24 ¢
• Address Verification Fee: 0.05 ¢
• Monthly Service/Support/Statement Fee: $9.95
• Annual Fee: $0.00
• Application Fee: $0.00
• Setup Fee: $0.00
• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0.00

Click to review all the Merchant Express Merchant Services Internet Solutions

B. Mail Order / Telephone Order Merchant Account Rates

• Mail/Phone Discount Rate: 2.27%
• Mail/Phone Transaction/Batch Fee: 0.24 ¢
• Address Verification Fee: 0.05 ¢
• Monthly Service/Support/Statement Fee: $9.95
• Annual Fee: $0.00
• Application Fee: $0.00
• Setup Fee: $0.00
• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0.00

Click to review all the Merchant Express Merchant Services Mail Order/Telephone Solutions

C. Retail Merchant Account Rates

• Retail Discount Rate: 1.69%
• Retail Transaction/Batch Fee: 0.19 ¢
• Monthly Service/Support/Statement Fee: $9.95
• Annual Fee: $0.00
• Application Fee: $0.00
• Setup Fee: $0.00
• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0.00

Click to review all the Merchant Express Merchant Services Retail Merchant Account Solutions

Merchant Express also offers – Wireless Merchant Account Rates, Phone Processing Rates, Check Processing and ACH Rates and a Free 30 day trial.

Recent numbers from the U.S. Department of Commerce show that online retail is continuing its rapid growth. However, malicious phishing and pharming schemes and fear of inadequate online security cause online retailers to lose out on business as potential customers balk at doing business online, worrying that sensitive data will be abused or compromised.

For e-businesses, the key is to build trust: Running a successful online business requires that your customers trust that your business effectively protects their sensitive information from intrusion and tampering. Installing an SSL Certificate from Starfield Technologies on your e-commerce Web site allows you to secure your online business and build customer confidence by securing all online transactions with up to 256-bit encryption. An SSL Certificate on your business’ Web site will ensure that sensitive data is kept safe from prying eyes. With a Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate, customers can trust your site. Before issuing a certificate, Starfield Technologies rigorously authenticates the requestor’s domain control and, in the case of High Assurance SSL Certificates, the identity and, if applicable, the business records of the certificate-requesting entity.

The authentication process ensures that customers and business partners can rest assured that a Web site protected with a Starfield Technologies certificate can be trusted. A Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate provides the security your business needs and the protection your customers deserve. With a Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate, customers will know that your site is secure.

Why You Need a Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate

In the rapidly expanding world of electronic commerce, security is paramount. Despite booming Internet sales, widespread consumer fear that Internet shopping is not secure still keeps millions of potential shoppers from buying online. Only if your customers trust that their credit card numbers and personal information will be kept safe from tampering can you run a successful online business.
For online retailers, securing their shopping sites is paramount. If consumers perceive that their credit card information might be
compromised online, they are unlikely to do their shopping on the Internet.

A Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate provides an easy, cost-effective and secure means to protect customer information and build trust. An SSL Certificate enables Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption of your business’ online transactions, allowing you to build an impenetrable fortress around your customers’ credit card information. Starfield Technologies SSL certificates bring the highest level of trust to your online business. A Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate ensures that all sensitive transactions are kept securely encrypted and safe from prying eyes, and rigorous authentication guarantees that Starfield Technologies certificates are issued only to entities whose existence and domains can be verified.

Industry Price Comparison

Below is a comparison of prices by the leaders in the SSL Certificate Industry.

PerformanceHost.net’s Hosted Email Exchange Plan uses Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, which is a versatile technology that organizations and business units of all sizes can use to increase the efficiency of business processes and improve team productivity. With tools for collaboration that help people stay connected across organizational and geographic boundaries, Windows SharePoint Services gives people access to information they need.

Built on Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Windows SharePoint Services also provides a foundation platform for building Web-based business applications that can flex and scale easily to meet the changing and growing needs of your business. Robust administrative controls for managing storage and Web infrastructure give IT departments a cost-effective way to implement and manage a high-performance collaboration environment. With a familiar, Web-based interface and close integration with everyday tools including the Microsoft Office system, Windows SharePoint Services is easy to use and can be deployed rapidly.
Collaborate Easily and Effectively

Windows SharePoint Services helps teams stay connected and productive by providing easy access to the people, documents, and information they need to make more informed decisions and get the job done. Enhancements in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 make it easier than ever to share documents, track tasks, use e-mail efficiently and effectively, and share ideas and information.

Provide a single workspace for teams to coordinate schedules, organize documents, and participate in discussions—within the organization and over the extranet.

Easily author and manage documents, and help to ensure their integrity with enhanced features including the option to require document checkout before editing, the ability to view past revisions and restore to previous versions, and the ability to set document-specific security.

Help people and teams stay on task with a variety of communication features that let users know when actions are required or important changes are made to existing information or documentation, including announcements, sophisticated alerts, surveys, and discussion boards.

Provide creative forums for brainstorming ideas, building knowledge bases, or simply gathering information in an easy-to-edit format with new templates for implementing blogs (also known as weblogs) and wikis (Web sites that can be quickly edited by team members—no special technical knowledge required).

Stay productive while mobile with enhanced support for offline synchronization through Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 that users can use to manage document libraries, lists, calendars, contacts, tasks, and discussion boards even offline, and to synchronize changes when reconnected to the network.

Get Started Quickly

As a built-in component of Windows Server 2003, Windows SharePoint Services makes it easy for IT departments to implement a dependable, scalable collaboration infrastructure with minimal administrative time and effort. Close integration of Windows SharePoint Services with familiar tools for authoring, publishing, organizing, and finding information, including the Microsoft Office system, helps users get up to speed quickly.

Simplify the creation and navigation of workspaces with the improved user interface and site creation tools in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 that provide easy-to-use templates, professional-looking site themes, and the ability to rearrange site navigation from within the browser.

Make it easy for users to get up to speed quickly by providing integration with familiar productivity tools such as those found in the Microsoft Office system—users can create workspaces, post and edit documents, and view and update calendars on SharePoint sites, all while working within Microsoft Office system files and programs.

Track work and tasks more easily with enhanced integration with Office Outlook 2007 that helps users organize calendars, tasks, contact lists, discussion boards, and meetings.

Customize workspaces with new application templates that provide custom scenarios for building workflows on the Windows SharePoint Services platform that address specific business processes or sets of tasks.

Implement a collaboration environment with minimal administrative time and effort, and with the flexibility to change deployment settings.

Deploy a Manageable Infrastructure

Deployment of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 increases control over and enhances security of your organization’s data and information resources. Reduce the dependency of business units on your company’s IT department for site provisioning, implementation, backup, and support. Whether you’re a contributor to a team site, a site owner, or a server administrator, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 provides better administrative controls for managing content, users, and sites so that individuals and teams can operate more efficiently and effectively.

Increase the security of business information with enhanced administrative controls that decrease cost and complexity associated with site provisioning, management, support, operations, and backup and restore.

Give IT better control over your organization’s infrastructure with new and improved services for controlling access to information and setting policies for site creation that enable security to be set as deep down as the item level.

Empower site managers and teams without compromising security by enabling them to initiate and control their own self-service workspaces and tasks, and manage the participation and access of others—all within parameters set by IT.

Provide a more robust document storage environment with document storage, recycle bin item retrieval, and version-control features built in to team workspaces.

Easily manage and configure Windows SharePoint Services by using a Web browser or command-line utilities, and enable a variety of custom and third-party administration solutions using the Microsoft .NET Framework.

Provide a Foundation for Web-Based Applications

With Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, IT professionals can tailor or extend the Windows SharePoint Services foundation to create new, efficient, Web-based tools and services specific to the organization, department, business process, or industry vertical. Through a highly customizable and extensible platform, companies can tie these new tools and services to existing line-of-business applications, capitalizing on existing IT investments and valuable information stored in back-end systems.

Manage business documents more easily with enhanced document library support and a common repository for document storage.

Use the Windows SharePoint Services platform to build rich, flexible, and scalable Web-based applications and Internet sites specific to the needs of your organization.

Take advantage of integration with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 that expands the platform services and common framework for document management exposed by Windows SharePoint Services to offer enterprise-wide functionality for records management, search, workflows, portals, personalized sites, and more.

Use Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 to quickly and easily customize SharePoint sites and build reporting tools and applications tailored to specific tasks without writing or deploying new code.

*Third-party logos and marks are registered trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved

Is your business looking for an email system?

Hello, my name is James Weaver and I’m a small business owner. I’ve been looking for a business email plan that not only makes sense, but also meet certain criteria and doesn’t cost too much. I own a courier service in Columbus, Ohio, A to B Express Courier Service and have searched for several hours, no, days, trying to find a cost effective and efficient solution to keep my employees in sync when traveling and while at the office. I wanted a system that could do more than just email.

Business email solution

Hosted Exchange Email by PerformanceHost.net is the most affordable business email group plan I found. For the price and amount of software that is included, other business email packages I found couldn’t compete.

I went with the group plan for $39.20 . . .
20GB of storage – that’s 4GB per person
SharePoint® Intranet 3.0 – this is the ultimate in collaboration and communication. Check out my sharepoint intranet 3.0 blog article
FREE Microsoft Outlook 2007 or Entourage 2008
No setup fee! and Mobile access to contacts, calendar and email.

This is really the best deal I could find. Google offers a business email package, but it costs (like most other companies) $50 per person per month!

The package from PerformanceHost.net helped me turn my business communications into a strategic asset. Hosted Exchange Email gave us a business-class email in a pay-as-you-go package, minimizing our financial commitment and freeing up valuable capital, IT staff and other resources. Plus it boosts productivity by providing on-the-go access to synchronized email, calendars and task management.

My employees enjoy increased collaboration and functionality with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Office Outlook 2007, used in conjunction with Exchange Server 2007, offers a rich and complete Outlook experience. We benefit from a new scheduling assistant that automates time-consuming calendaring tasks, the ability to schedule and customize out-of-office communications, and managed folders that facilitate compliance needs.

They can also instantly search all their information. Having problems finding the information you need? We were too. So now we use Office Outlook 2007 to search for keywords, dates or other flexible criteria to locate items in your e-mail, calendar, contacts, or tasks. Which helps us to easily manage our daily priorities and information. We can also check our priorities for the day by looking at the To-Do Bar where your flagged mails and tasks are clearly laid out.

This plan has really given my staff the ability to connect with people easily and effectively. New Office Outlook 2007 calendaring functionalities provide easy ways to share your calendar with anyone within or outside of your organization, giving your important contacts immediate access to your information. And we don’t have to worry about protecting our email system. It’s all done for us, also saving us time and money. You can enjoy new measures that help keep you safe from junk e-mail and malicious sites. Office Outlook 2007 has taken new measures to help keep you safe from junk mail and phishing Web sites. To help protect you from divulging personal information to a threatening Web site, Office Outlook 2007 has an improved junk e-mail filter and has added new features that disable links and warn you about threatening content within an e-mail message.

Personally, my favorite part of our new system is being able to manage our shared information and content in one interface. Using our Group Plan, Office Outlook 2007 provides rich interaction with information stored in Windows SharePoint Services® 3.0 technology at any time. You can connect Windows SharePoint Services documents, calendars, contacts, tasks, and other information to Office Outlook 2007, giving you a central place to manage your information. This has saved every employee time and not to mention the company money.

Being able to send text messages from Outlook with one easy click is my second favorite part of our plan. It speeds communications between employees and our dispatch. Outlook Mobile Service is a feature of Outlook that enables you to send and receive text and picture messages between Office Outlook 2007 and any mobile phone.

If you sign up for a group plan make sure to sign up for more than one year. It’s only $39.20/month when you sign up for more than one year! That’s a 15% savings!

This Blog Article will provide you with an understanding of a typical SSL Certificates cost.

The cost of a SSL Certificate will vary upon the type of ssl certificate you plan to purchase. Companies offer different levels of encryption and usually at several different costs.

PerformanceHost.net offers an affordable Starfield SSL Certificate which is developed on the industry known Starfield SSL technology. The Starfield SSL technology is as safe as you can get if you are in the market for SSL certificates and provides you with an affodable cost when compared to all other ssl providers. The SSL Certificates provided by www.performancehost.net are either 128-bit or 256-bit encrypted which are as safe as any other certificate available, if not safer, and they cost a lot less too. Together, www.performancehost.net and Starfield Technologies offer three levels of Starfield SSL Certificates, Standard SSL Certificates, Deluxe SSL Certificates, and Premium SSL Certificates.

Each Starfield SSL Certificate offers a variety of features and comes with a warranty.

Standard Starfield SSL Certificates are used to Verify domain control & secure your site and is the least expensive of the three Starfield SSL Certificates. You can purchase a single domain package for $29.99 per year or their multiple domain package for $59.99 per year!

Application Process is simple and fast. There is no fax document required and no telephone verification required. It verifies the domain name and domain name control. The actual certificate contains only the domain name. It has a $2000 warranty and is encrypted up to 256-bit!

Below is a comparison for their prices based on the competitions pricing.

Deluxe Starfield SSL Certificates Verify your domain control & identity & secures your site. This is a step up from the Standard Starfield SSL certificate. The Deluxe SSL Certificate pricing, for single domains, start at $89.95 per year and for multiple domains pricing starts at $199.99 per year!

The Deluxe Starfield SSL Certificate is thorough and complete. Company or individual identification docs may be required by fax and your company or individual must be able to receive a verification telephone call. The Deluxe SSL Certificate is a manual verification proces. This process will verify the domain name and domain name control, identity of requesting person or company, and authority to make request and is issued within 2-4 hours. It too has a $2000 warranty and is encrypted up to 256-bit.

Below is a comparison for their prices based on the competitions pricing.

Premium SSL Certificates The highest level of online assurance for your customers. The Premium SSL Certificate pricing, for single domains start at $199.99 for single year and and for multiple years, pricing starts at $179.99 per year! The Superior SSL Certificate typically requires a letter from your attorney or accountant and must be able to receive a verification phone call. This Certificate ensures and extensive verification process and verifies your organization’s identity, the validity of your request and the overall legitimacy of your business. The Certificate contains your companies legal name, registration number and contact information. The length of process can depend on documentation requirements. And like the other SSL Certificates, the Premium SSL is encrypted up to 256-bit and has a $2,000 warranty.

Below is a comparison for their prices based on the competitions pricing.

PerformanceHost.net uses the SysTrust or WebTrust Seal of assurance. The Trust Services Principles and Criteria is an international set of principles and criteria for systems and electronic commerce developed and managed jointly by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. By demonstrating compliance with Trust Services criteria through an examination by an independent practitioner, entities earn the right to display the seal of assurance.

The Seal of assurance combines high standards for identified activities with the requirement for an independent verification/audit. Together they build trust and confidence among consumers and businesses conducting business over the Internet.

The entity has earned the right to display the Seal of assurance with respect to the Trust Service Principle(s) of:

Certification Authorities

The WebTrust Seal of assurance for Certification Authorities (CA) symbolizes to potential relying parties that a qualified practitioner has evaluated the CA’s business practices and controls to determine whether they are in conformity with the AICPA/CICA WebTrust for Certification Authorities Principles and Criteria. An unqualified opinion from the practitioner indicates that such principles are being followed in conformity with the WebTrust for Certification Authorities Criteria. These principles and criteria reflect fundamental standards for the establishment and on-going operation of a Certification Authority organization or function.

A Starfield SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information sent to the server using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. Encryption is the process of scrambling data into an undecipherable format that can only be returned to a readable format with the proper decryption key.

A certificate serves as an electronic “passport” that establishes an online entity’s credentials when doing business on the Web. When an Internet user attempts to send confidential information to a Web server, the user’s browser accesses the server’s digital certificate and establishes a secure connection.

A Starfield SSL certificate contains the following information:

* The certificate holder’s name
* The certificate’s serial number and expiration date
* A copy of the certificate holder’s public key
* The digital signature of the certificate-issuing authority

How does a Starfield SSL certificate work?

A Starfield SSL certificate ensures safe, easy, and convenient Internet shopping. Once an Internet user enters a secure area — by entering credit card information, email address, or other personal data, for example — the shopping site’s SSL certificate enables the browser and Web server to build a secure, encrypted connection. The SSL “handshake” process, which establishes the secure session, takes place discreetly behind the scene without interrupting the consumer’s shopping experience. A “padlock” icon in the browser’s status bar and the “https://” prefix in the URL are the only visible indications of a secure session in progress.

By contrast, if a user attempts to submit personal information to an unsecured website (i.e., a site that is not protected with a valid SSL certificate), the browser’s built-in security mechanism triggers a warning to the user, reminding him/her that the site is not secure and that sensitive data might be intercepted by third parties. Faced with such a warning, most Internet users will likely look elsewhere to make a purchase.

What is the Encryption Strength

All of our Starfield SSL certificates support high-grade 256-bit encryption.

The actual encryption strength on a secure connection using a digital certificate is determined by the level of encryption supported by the user’s browser and the server that the website resides on. For example, the combination of a Firefox browser and an Apache Web server normally enables up to 256-bit AES encryption with our Starfield SSL certificates. This means that depending on the Web browser and Web server that combine to establish the secure connection through one of our SSL certificates, the encryption strength of the secure connection may be 40, 56, 128, or 256 bit.

How do I install a Starfield SSL Certificate?

Once signed and issued, you will receive an email message that allows you to download the certificate along with our intermediate certificates, all of which must be installed on your website. The specific installation procedure is determined by your choice of Web server software.

How will my customers know that my site is secure?

An “https://” prefix in the URL and a key or padlock icon in the browser’s status bar indicate that a page within a website is secure.
An SSL-encrypted session usually starts once a visitor signs in to a secure area of a website, such as the checkout or account-management area of an online store.

How long does it take to issue a Starfield SSL certificate?

If all required documentation has been successfully authenticated and the final phone call has been completed (during business hours of the requestor), a Deluxe Starfield SSL Certificate generally can be issued within 2-5 hours of CSR submission.

If all required documentation is provided and we successfully authenticate the submitted information, an SSL Certificate can be issued within minutes of CSR submission.

What is a Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate?

A Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate is a digital certificate issued in conformance with the extended validation guidelines defined by the CA/Browser Forum.

The introduction of Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates will tighten the security of Internet transactions as certificate requestors will be subject to a thorough, standardized vetting process which all issuing Certification Authorities (CAs) must adhere to.

The Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate standard provides an improved level of authentication of entities that request digital certificates for securing transactions on their websites. The Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate standard provides an improved level of authentication of entities that request digital certificates for securing transactions on their websites. The latest generation of Internet browsers will display Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL-secured websites in a way that allows visitors to instantly recognize that the organization that operates the site has been authenticated in accordance with the CA/Browser Forum’s uniform vetting standard.

Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates are particularly useful for companies whose Internet domains are considered at a high risk of being targeted by phishing schemes and other types of Internet fraud. High-risk domains include domains owned by high-profile online financial services, banking sites, auction sites, popular retailers and other sites that conduct Internet transactions likely to be targeted by Internet fraud.

What Are the Benefits of an Extended Validation SSL Certificate?

In essence: The combination of a rigorous, standardized vetting process and new browser versions displaying EV SSL-secured websites differently enables website visitors to instantly recognize that a website can be trusted. As Internet users become familiar with the new browser versions, they will immediately recognize the difference between websites that are secured with traditional SSL certificates and those that are covered by the more stringent EV SSL standard.

What is the difference between a Starfield Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate and a Starfield Deluxe SSL Certificate?

The main difference between Premium Extended Validation (EV) and Deluxe SSL certificates is the vetting process that must be completed in order for the Certification Authority (CA) to issue a signed certificate to the requestor. Additionally, websites secured with Premium Extended Validation (EV) certificates will be displayed differently in the new generation of Web browsers. Currently Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 3, Safari 3.2, Opera 9.5, and Google Chrome all provide EV support.

More comprehensive than the Deluxe vetting process, the Premium Extended Validation (EV) vetting process validates the requestor’s domain control and verifies the requesting entity’s legal existence and identity. The process authenticates the following information pertaining to the certificate-requesting organization:

• Legal existence: The Certification Authority (CA) must confirm with the Incorporating Agency in the requesting entity’s Jurisdiction of Incorporation that, as of the date the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is issued, the organization named in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate legally exists as a valid organization or entity in the Jurisdiction of Incorporation.

• Identity: The CA must confirm that, as of the date the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is issued, the legal name of the entity named in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate matches the name on the official government records of the Incorporating Agency in the requesting entity’s Jurisdiction of Incorporation. (And if an assumed name is also included, that the assumed name is properly registered by the requesting entity in the jurisdiction of its place of business.)

• Registration number: The CA must obtain the specific unique registration number assigned to applicant by the Incorporating Agency in the requesting entity’s Applicant’s Jurisdiction of Incorporation.

• Registered agent: The CA must obtain the identity and address of the requesting entity’s Registered Agent or Registered Office (as applicable) in the requestor’s Jurisdiction of Incorporation.

• Right to use domain name: The CA must take all steps reasonably necessary to verify that, as of the date the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is issued, the entity named in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate owns or has the exclusive right to use the domain name listed in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate.

• Authorization for Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate: The CA must take all steps reasonably necessary to verify that the entity named in the Premium SSL certificate has authorized the issuance of the Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate.

Why You Need an SSL Certificate by PerformanceHost.net

In the rapidly expanding world of electronic commerce, security is paramount. Despite booming Internet sales, widespread consumer fear that Internet shopping is not secure still keeps millions of potential shoppers from buying online. Only if your customers trust that their credit card numbers and personal information will be kept safe from tampering can you run a successful online business. For online retailers, securing their shopping sites is paramount. If consumers perceive that their credit card information might be compromised online, they are unlikely to do their shopping on the Internet.

A PerformanceHost.net SSL Certificate from Starfield Technologies provides an easy, cost-effective and secure means to protect customer information and build trust. An SSL Certificate enables Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption of your business’ online transactions, allowing you to build an impenetrable fortress around your customers’ credit card information. Starfield Technologies SSL certificates bring the highest level of trust to your online business. A Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate ensures that all sensitive transactions are kept securely encrypted and safe from prying eyes, and rigorous authentication guarantees that Starfield Technologies certificates are issued only to entities whose existence and domains can be verified.

Starfield Technologies SSL Certificates offer industry-leading security and versatility:

1. Fully validated
2. Up to 256-bit encryption
3. One-, two- or three-year validity (Turbo SSL Certificates valid up to 10 years)
4. 99% percent browser recognition
5. Stringent authentication
6. Around-the-clock customer support

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a Web site to visiting browsers and encrypts information for the server via Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. A certificate serves as an electronic “passport” that establishes an online entity’s credentials when doing business on the Web. When an Internet user attempts to send confidential information to a Web server, the user’s browser will access the server’s digital certificate and establish a secure connection.

Information contained in the certificate includes:

1. The certificate holder’s name (individual or company)
2. The certificate’s serial number and expiration date
3. Copy of the certificate holder’s public key
4. The digital signature of the certificate-issuing authority

To obtain an SSL certificate, one must generate and submit a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) to a trusted Certification Authority, such as Starfield Technologies, which will authenticate the requestor’s identity, existence. and domain registration ownership before issuing a certificate.
Enabling Safe and Convenient Online Shopping

A Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate secures safe, easy and convenient Internet shopping. Once an Internet user enters a secure area — by entering credit card information, e-mail address or other personal data, for example — the shopping site’s SSL certificate enables the browser and Web server to build a secure, encrypted connection. The SSL “handshake” process, which establishes the secure session, takes place discreetly behind the scenes, ensuring an uninterrupted shopping experience for the consumer. A “padlock” icon in the browser’s status bar and the “https://” prefix in the URL are the only visible indications of a secure session in progress.

By contrast, if a user attempts to submit personal information to an unsecured Web site (i.e., a site that is not protected with a valid SSL certificate), the browser’s built-in security mechanism will trigger a warning to the user, reminding him/her that the site is not secure and that sensitive data might be intercepted by third parties. Faced with such a warning, most Internet users likely will look elsewhere to make a purchase.
Up to 256-Bit Encryption

Starfield Technologies SSL certificates support both industry-standard 128-bit (used by all banking infrastructures to safeguard sensitive data) and high-grade 256-bit SSL encryption to secure online transactions. The actual encryption strength on a secure connection using a digital certificate is determined by the level of encryption supported by the user’s browser and the server that the Web site resides on. For example, the combination of a Firefox browser and an Apache 2.X Web server enables up to 256-bit AES encryption with Starfield Technologies certificates.

Encryption strength is measured in key length — number of bits in the key. To decipher an SSL communication, one needs to generate the correct decoding key. Mathematically speaking, 2n possible values exist for an n-bit key. Thus, 40-bit encryption involves 240 possible values. 128- and 256-bit keys involve a staggering 2128 and 2256 possible combinations, respectively, rendering the encrypted data de facto impervious to intrusion. Even with a brute-force attack (the process of systematically trying all possible combinations until the right one is found) cracking a 128- or 256-bit encryption is computationally unfeasible.
Conclusion — The Key to Online Security

Demand for reliable online security is increasing. Despite booming online sales many consumers continue to believe that shopping online is less safe than doing so at old-fashioned brick-and-mortar stores. The key to establishing a successful online business is to build customer trust. Only when potential customers trust that their credit card information and personal data is safe with your business, will they consider making purchases on the Internet.

A Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate provides a convenient, costeffective and reliable means to secure your business’s online transactions. Once installed on your business’ Web site the certificate will safeguard sensitive data by securing online transactions with up to 256-bit SSL encryption. With a Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate your customers will know that they can trust your business. Applying a Starfield Technologies SSL Certificate to your online business today will secure your online sales.

Choose between three types of SSL Certificates
Standard SSL Certificates
Deluxe SSL Certificates
Premium SSL Certificates