What is a digital certificate used for?

A digital certificate serves a vital role in cyber security by verifying the identity of the entity that possesses a public key and establishing secure connections. This process is essential for ensuring trust in electronic communications and transactions.

When a digital certificate is issued, it is signed by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA), which acts as a third-party verifier. This trust enables users to confirm that the public key contained within the certificate indeed belongs to the entity it claims to represent, such as a website or an individual. This verification is crucial for secure protocols, such as HTTPS, where establishing a trusted connection prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and ensures that sensitive data, like credit card information or personal messages, is transmitted securely.

The other options do not encapsulate the primary function of a digital certificate. While enhancing the speed of data transmission, creating backups, or securely storing passwords are important aspects of network security and data management, they are not the purpose of a digital certificate. Its main focus is identity verification and secure communication, which is critical in today’s digital landscape.