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What is SSL?
How is SSL different from regular data transfer?
What does the server do to make the data secure?
How can I tell if I'm in secure mode?
How can I link to my secure page from the rest of my web site?
Do I have to do anything different when designing pages for my Secure folder?
Why do visitors get an error saying they are viewing secure and unsecure items? when they access my secure folder?
Can I rename my Secure folder?
I'm having difficulties getting my SSL forms to work with FrontPage.

What is SSL?
Netscape introduced SSL (secure sockets layer) via the Navigator browser in 1995, allowing broad public access to online information security. SSL is an encryption technology that scrambles a message so that only the recipient can unscramble it, using technologies developed by RSA Security. URLs that begin with "https://" are using SSL. (Think of the "s" as standing for "secure.")

How is SSL different from regular data transfer?
Regular data can easily be intercepted and read.  SSL transmits data encrypted.  Our server has the ability to scramble your data so anybody who might intercept the information wouldn't be able to read it.  

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What does the server do to make the data secure?
When the server sets up a secure connection, it sends a special code to your visitors computer that it uses to encrypt the data your visitors are sending, including name, credit cards or sensitive company information.  Once the data gets to our server, then it is unencrypted so it can be read.  When the connection is lost, the visitors computer 'forgets' the special code.

How can I tell if I'm in secure mode?
In the address bar of your browser you will see https:// rather than http://.  The 's' at the end of the http stands for secure.  If you don't see that 's' then the connection is not secure.

How can I link to my secure page from the rest of my web site?
We will provide you will a link to a virtual directory that begins with https: which you will need to use instead of the yourdomain/secure folder where you put your files.  If you use the internal link to this secure folder rather than the virtual directory link that we provide, your visitors will not have a secure connection.

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Do I have to do anything different when designing pages for my Secure folder?
When you are creating the pages for your secure folder, make sure that all graphics and databases are inside the secure folder.  If you try to use a graphics from your regular /images file then it will break the security.

Why do visitors get an error saying they are viewing secure and unsecure items when they access my secure folder?
You probably are linking to images that are not inside the secure folder.  Everything linked to on the secure page (except the exit links) must be included in the secure folder.  Images are generally the biggest culprit.

Can I rename my Secure folder?
No, you cannot rename the secure folder or the virtual directory that we set up for you will no longer work.

I'm having difficulties getting my SSL forms to work with FrontPage.
Sometimes clients do have difficulties getting forms to work with FrontPage.  If you are certain that your forms work under other conditions, please send a message to support@coastline.com informing us of your situation.  We can make special arrangements that allow FrontPage forms to work properly.

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