Test your knowledge on HTTPS, TLS, and the process of certificate verification with these beginner-friendly questions. This quiz is designed to help you understand secure internet communications and how trust is established through certificate validation.
HTTPS is primarily used to protect data sent between your browser and a website by providing what type of security?
Explanation: HTTPS uses encryption to protect data from being read by unauthorized parties and authentication to ensure the website you visit is genuine. Faster downloads are not a feature of HTTPS; the protocol focuses on security, not speed. Storing cookies happens with or without HTTPS and is unrelated to securing communications. Blocking advertisements is not a function of HTTPS.
A valid TLS certificate helps your browser verify which aspect of a website before transmitting sensitive information?
Explanation: TLS certificates are used to confirm a website’s identity, so you know you are communicating with the intended site. The certificate does not provide information about the server's hardware, such as RAM or battery level, which are unrelated to web security. The site’s popularity is also not verified by the certificate.
Who issues and digitally signs TLS certificates for websites to establish trust?
Explanation: A Certificate Authority (CA) is a trusted entity that issues and signs TLS certificates, ensuring the legitimacy of websites. Web browsers do not issue certificates; they only verify them. Internet Service Providers route traffic, and hostname resolvers translate names to IP addresses, but neither issues certificates.
When your browser connects to a secure site, how does it verify the TLS certificate has not been tampered with?
Explanation: The browser checks each certificate in the chain, ultimately ensuring it links to a trusted root authority. The color scheme of a website, download history, and pop-up messages are irrelevant to how certificates are validated and do not provide any proof of legitimacy.
What does the padlock symbol in your browser's address bar MOST commonly indicate?
Explanation: A padlock icon in the address bar signifies that the site uses HTTPS and data is encrypted in transit. It doesn't mean the site loads faster, is popular, or that you are in incognito mode. Only the presence of encryption and certificate authentication is indicated by the padlock.
What happens if a website’s TLS certificate is expired and you try to visit it?
Explanation: If a certificate is expired, browsers will warn users about the potential security risk and may block access. The website does not selectively refuse to load images, and automatic logout is unrelated. Certificates are not automatically renewed without action from the site owner.
If a website uses a self-signed TLS certificate, what will typically happen when you access it?
Explanation: Browsers show a warning because self-signed certificates are not signed by a trusted authority, so their authenticity cannot be automatically verified. A green background is unrelated and not a browser indicator. Data compression and redirection are not linked to certificate validation.
Which process allows browsers to check if a TLS certificate has been revoked before its expiration date?
Explanation: The Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is used to check in real time if a certificate has been revoked. HyperText Cache Protocol and Renewal DNS System are not standard protocols related to certificates, and 'Transport Layer Sockets' is an incorrect term; the correct technology is Transport Layer Security.
If the website address you visit does not match the Common Name or Subject Alternative Name on its TLS certificate, what will occur?
Explanation: Browsers display a warning if the website's address does not match the certificate's approved domains, helping prevent impersonation. Adjusting webpage brightness, switching to HTTP, or showing logos in the address bar are not security practices for handling such mismatches.
Which of the following can you view when you examine a website’s TLS certificate in your browser?
Explanation: You can view details like the expiration date, issuer, and domain names in the certificate. Server operating system, user credentials, and visit statistics are not part of a standard certificate and are not displayed in the browser’s certificate viewer.