You probably already know what identity verification is, and have gone through a vetting process at some point in your life, whether when getting your passport or purchasing an SSL Certificate. It can be a stressful event, and an awkward one, as it requires you prove the most basic fact about yourself: that you are who you say you are, and that you are worth trusting.

Identity verification probably isn’t the first thing you’re thinking of when you go online.

Most of us have been told that the internet is kind of a Wild West, with only a few sheriffs in place to keep the criminals in check. I was told that my security online depended on me being vigilant, and watching what sites I visited like a hawk.

I knew a little about SSL Certificates, and HTTPS. I knew how to check if a site I was giving banking or personal information to was encrypted with SSL technology. I knew about scams, about Nigerian Princes asking for me to send them money. I knew I should protect my passwords and always be aware of the dangers of giving up personal information online. A lot of my safety seemed to depend on me.

Little did I know that there was a whole group of people dedicated to creating a layer of security around the internet that was already making it safer for everyone.

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The process of being verified can be slightly uncomfortable, however, expert verification teams are trained to successfully verify identities so that if you are not misrepresenting yourself it can be an easy and pleasant experience. The only group for which this should be an uncomfortable experience are web criminals who look to use the advantage of anonymity to do bad things. But thanks to identity verification, and the massive movement to make the online world a trusted and secure place, it’s getting a lot harder for criminals to use this advantage, and a lot easier for your customers to feel confident about their safety online.In a digital world where you can go from place to place without borders, and you can travel at the speed of light (if you have fibre optic Internet), identity verification serves as a means of creating a trusted and secure environment. It allows people to communicate and transact as if it were a real-world setting, and as communication technologies evolve, the online world will become closer to real-world despite being made out of 0s and 1s. Around the clock verification agents worldwide make sure that certified websites are owned and operated by legitimate, trustworthy businesses and people. Working together by establishing rules and guidelines for certificate issuance, SSL Certificate vendors make the internet a safer place to communicate, to do business and to socialize.

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