How to Download an SSL Certificate from a Website

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection. It secures sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data transmitted over the internet. When installed on a web server, it activates the padlock in the browser’s address bar, indicating a secure connection. This article will discuss what an SSL certificate is, why it is essential, and, most importantly, how to download an SSL certificate from a website.

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a global standard security technology that creates an encrypted link between a server and a client, typically a web server (website) and a browser, or a mail server and a mail client.

The SSL certificate contains information about the certificate owner’s identity, the certificate authority that issued it, a public key, a serial number, and the SSL certificate’s validity period.

This certificate is installed on the web server, and when a browser connects to the server, it establishes an SSL connection, ensuring secure data transmission.

Why Download an SSL Certificate from a Website?

You might want to download an SSL certificate from a website for several reasons:

To verify the certificate’s details: Downloading the certificate allows you to view all its details, including the issuing authority, validity period, and owner’s information. This can be crucial for security audits or if you need to verify the website’s identity.
To troubleshoot connection issues: If you’re experiencing SSL-related errors or connection problems, downloading the certificate can help diagnose the issue. You can examine the certificate’s details to ensure it is valid, trusted, and correctly installed.
To create a certificate chain: In some cases, you may need to create a certificate chain, especially when dealing with intermediate certificates. By downloading the SSL certificate and any necessary intermediate certificates, you can bundle them together to ensure a complete and trusted chain.
For backup purposes: If you manage a website and need to replace or reinstall the SSL certificate, having a downloaded copy ensures a smooth and quick recovery.
To inspect security features: By examining the SSL certificate, you can learn about the encryption algorithms and key sizes used, helping you assess the website’s security posture.

How to Download the SSL Certificate from a Website

Downloading an SSL certificate is a straightforward process, and there are several methods you can use, depending on your preferred tools and browser. This section will guide you through the process of downloading an SSL certificate from a website using different approaches.

Using Chrome or Other Chromium-based Browsers

If you use Google Chrome or any Chromium-based browser (such as Brave, Opera, or Microsoft Edge Chromium), follow these steps to download the SSL certificate from a website:

Open the Website: Start by opening the website for which you want to download the SSL certificate in your Chrome browser.
Click the Lock Icon: In the address bar, click on the lock icon to the left of the URL. This will open the site’s security information window. If you don’t see the lock icon, the site might be using an outdated SSL/TLS version, or there might be an issue with the certificate.
Click ‘Certificate’: In the window that appears, you will see details about the SSL certificate. Click on the ‘Certificate’ field to expand and view more options.
Go to the ‘Details’ Tab: This will open a new window with detailed information about the certificate. Click on the ‘Details’ tab at the top to view all the certificate fields.
Click ‘Export’: In the ‘Details’ tab, you will find the ‘Export’ button. Click on it to save the certificate to your computer.
Save the File: A file dialog will open, prompting you to select a location to save the file. Choose a folder and enter a filename if you wish, then click ‘Save’. Your SSL certificate will be downloaded as a .cer file format.

That’s it!

You have successfully downloaded the SSL certificate from the website using Chrome. You can now view the certificate details using a text editor or a certificate viewer tool.

Using Firefox

If Firefox is your browser of choice, here’s how to download the SSL certificate:

Open the Website: Start by opening the desired website in Firefox.
Click the Lock Icon: Similar to Chrome, click on the lock icon to the left of the URL in the address bar. This will open the ‘Connection Secure’ window with site information.
Click ‘More Information’: In the window that appears, click on the ‘>’ arrow to expand the details and then click on ‘More Information’. This will open a new window with more in-depth information about the connection and the SSL certificate.
Click ‘View Certificate’: In the new window, under the ‘Technical Details’ section, click on the ‘View Certificate’ button.
Go to the ‘Details’ Tab: This will open yet another window with the certificate details. Click on the ‘Details’ tab at the top to view all the fields of the certificate.
Click ‘Export’: In the ‘Details’ tab, you will find the ‘Export…’ button. Click on it to save a copy of the certificate to your computer.
Save the File: Choose a location to save the file, such as your Desktop, and click ‘Save’. Firefox will save the SSL certificate in .cert format.

Now you have successfully downloaded the SSL certificate using Firefox and can view its contents with a text editor or a dedicated certificate viewer application.

Using OpenSSL (Command-Line Method)

OpenSSL is a versatile open-source toolkit that can be used for various cryptographic operations, including SSL/TLS encryption. It is a command-line tool, so you’ll need to be comfortable using the Terminal or Command Prompt. Here’s how to use OpenSSL to download an SSL certificate from a website:

Open Terminal/Command Prompt: Open your preferred command-line interface. On Windows, search for ‘cmd’ in the Start menu or press Win + R and type ‘cmd’. On macOS or Linux, you can find Terminal in the Applications or Utilities folder.
Use the OpenSSL Command: To download the SSL certificate, you will use the ‘openssl s_client’ command with the ‘-showcerts’ option to display the certificates and the ‘-connect’ option to specify the website’s URL. Here’s the command:

openssl s_client -showcerts -connect <website_url>:443

Replace <website_url> with the actual URL of the website from which you want to download the SSL certificate. For example, to download the certificate from www.example.com, the command would be:

openssl s_client -showcerts -connect www.example.com:443

Make sure you include the ‘https://’ prefix in the URL.

View the Certificate Details: After running the command, you will see a lot of output text. Scroll up to the top, and you will find the SSL certificate details, including the certificate chain if there are intermediate certificates.
Copy and Save the Certificate: To save the SSL certificate, you need to copy the output text related to the certificate. Look for the ‘—–BEGIN CERTIFICATE—–‘ line, and copy everything from that line to the ‘—–END CERTIFICATE—–‘ line.
Create a .pem File: Open a text editor, such as Notepad or TextEdit, and paste the copied text. Save the file with a .pem extension, such as ‘ssl_certificate.pem’. The .pem format is a standard container for SSL certificates and is widely used for storing and transferring certificates.

That’s it! You have successfully used OpenSSL to download and save the SSL certificate from the website.

Using Other Web Browsers

If you’re using a different web browser, such as Safari or Internet Explorer, the process to download the SSL certificate might vary slightly, but the general steps remain similar:

Open the Website: Start by opening the desired website in your browser.
Find the SSL Certificate Information: This step depends on your browser. Look for an icon or indicator in the address bar or the site’s identity box that shows the connection is secure. It could be a lock icon, a green address bar, or a site identity button. Click on that icon or button to view the site’s security information.
Navigate to Certificate Details: Once you have opened the site’s security information, look for an option or button labeled ‘Certificate’, ‘View Certificate’, or ‘More Information’. This will open a window with detailed information about the SSL certificate.
Export/Save the Certificate: In the certificate details window, look for an ‘Export’ or ‘Save’ option. This will allow you to save a copy of the SSL certificate to your computer. Choose a location and file name, and save the certificate.

The exact steps may vary depending on your browser and version, but the general process of finding the SSL certificate information and exporting it remains consistent across most modern browsers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download an SSL certificate from a website using wget?

Wget is a command-line tool used for retrieving content from web servers. While it doesn’t directly download SSL certificates, you can use it to download the certificate chain file, which contains the SSL certificate and any intermediate certificates. Here’s how you can do it:

Open Terminal/Command Prompt: Start by opening your command-line interface.
Use the Wget Command: Run the following command, replacing <website_url> with the actual URL of the website:

wget --no-check-certificate -O certificate.crt https://<website_url>/.well-known/pki-validation/fileauth.txt

This command will download the certificate chain file to your current directory and save it as ‘certificate.crt’.

View the Certificate: You can view the contents of the downloaded file using a text editor or a certificate viewer tool. The file will contain the SSL certificate and any intermediate certificates in PEM format.

How do I download an SSL certificate from my website or server?

If you own or manage a website and want to download your SSL certificate, the process depends on how you obtained the certificate:

If you purchased the certificate from a Certificate Authority (CA): Log in to your account on the CA’s website and locate the certificate management section. From there, you should be able to view and download your SSL certificate and any associated intermediate certificates.
If you generated a self-signed certificate: Self-signed certificates are typically stored on your web server. You can access your server via SSH or FTP and locate the certificate files. The location of the files depends on your server configuration, but common locations include /etc/ssl/ or /etc/letsencrypt/.

How do I download an SSL certificate from a website on a Mac?

The process of downloading an SSL certificate on a Mac is similar to that on other operating systems. You can use any of the methods mentioned earlier, such as using Safari or Chrome, or you can use the OpenSSL method via the Terminal:

Open Terminal: You can find Terminal in the Utilities folder or use Spotlight search to locate it.
Use the OpenSSL Command: As explained earlier, use the following command, replacing <website_url> with the desired URL:

openssl s_client -showcerts -connect <website_url>:443

Copy and Save the Certificate: Scroll up in the output to find the ‘BEGIN CERTIFICATE’ and ‘END CERTIFICATE’ lines. Copy everything in between and paste it into a text editor. Save the file with a .pem or .cer extension.

How do I download and install an SSL certificate on my website?

Downloading and installing an SSL certificate on your website involves the following steps:

Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR): Before obtaining an SSL certificate, you must first generate a CSR on your web server. The CSR contains information about your organization and the server on which the certificate will be installed.
Purchase or Obtain an SSL Certificate: You can purchase an SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority (CA). Choose a certificate type (DV, OV, or EV) that suits your needs and follow the CA’s instructions to obtain the certificate. You will need to provide the CSR during this process.
Install the SSL Certificate: Once you have received your SSL certificate from the CA, it’s time to install it on your web server. The installation process varies depending on your server type and control panel, but it typically involves uploading the certificate files (the SSL certificate, private key, and any intermediate certificates) to the appropriate location on your server and then configuring your web server software to use the certificate.
Test Your SSL Installation: After installation, test your website using an SSL checker tool to ensure the certificate is installed correctly and that your website is fully secure.

Wrapping Up

In this article, we have discussed SSL certificates, their importance in securing websites, and, most importantly, how to download an SSL certificate from a website. We have covered different methods, including using popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox, the command-line tool OpenSSL, and other web browsers.

Being able to download an SSL certificate is a valuable skill for website owners, system administrators, and security professionals. It allows for certificate verification, troubleshooting, and ensuring the security of online communications.

Remember to use the downloaded certificates responsibly and only for legitimate purposes, such as security audits or backup strategies. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily download SSL certificates and better understand website security.