Legal Definitions - certifying authority

Definition: A certifying authority (CA) is an organization that issues digital certificates and maintains a database of certificates available on the Internet. Many states have licensing laws for certification authorities.

Example: Let's say you want to buy something online and want to make sure your information is secure. The website you are using will have a digital certificate issued by a certifying authority. This certificate verifies that the website is legitimate and that your information will be encrypted and protected.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a certifying authority issues digital certificates to websites to ensure their legitimacy and security. This helps protect users from fraud and cyber attacks.