Symantec's enhanced SSL Assistant Plus tool targets online retailers

Symantec has released an “enhanced version” of its encryption tool Symantec SSL Assistant Plus targeted at online retailers.

“Last year, the Heartbleed vulnerability left half a million websites at risk, raising awareness for the importance of strong SSL/TLS encryption. Internet sites around the world for banking, healthcare, government, education and social media rely on SSL encryption to help keep their data and their customers’ data secure. Online retailers in particular depend on SSL to ensure a secure link for financial transactions and to keep sensitive information safe. But setting up SSL encryption is a technical process, and for many website owners it can be too complicated,” the company said. “With SSL Assistant Plus, Symantec has simplified the experience of setting up encryption and delivering security in an easy way.”

According to Symantec, the new tool cuts the time it takes to set up encryption down to minutes by removing arduous steps that require technical experience.  It automates the entire configuration process.

With SSL Assistant Plus, the four most common browser warnings will become a thing of the past. By using a secure connection, e-commerce sites can reduce the types of browser warnings that spook online shoppers away from their sites. SSL encryption alerts online shoppers that their information is safe by showing a lock icon in the address bar.

Symantec SSL Assistant Plus enables website owners to use Domain Validation (DV) certificates, as well as Organization Validation (OV) and Extended Validation (EV) certificates, which verify the real organisation or business behind a website.

“When sites also use EV certificates with SSL, shoppers will see the address bar turn green and include the site owner’s name. This gives businesses of any size the same power to protect themselves and their customers as the largest retailers in the world.”