Have a website? Want it to get found in search engines? If the answer to these questions is “Yes”, then it’s likely you’ve given search engine optimization (SEO) a go at some point, or at least more than a passing thought. While the impulse when getting started with SEO is often diving headfirst into keyword research and link building (where spelling is super important; you should know the difference between affect and effect, for example), there are some lesser talked about aspects of SEO that are just as important. Namely, two crucial files you should have on your site: robots.txt and sitemap.xml.

All Internet users have likely heard the term “IP address” mentioned on their web surfing travels, but do you know what they are and how they work? In this article, we’ll be looking at these mysterious sets of numbers digital devices need to connect to the Internet, and why they are integral to how the Internet functions.

Anyone with a computer or digital device has probably heard the term firewall before, even if they don’t quite understand what it is or what they do. It’s sort of a pity because firewalls play a massive role in cybersecurity across myriad types of devices and networks. Behind every secure website, network, or device is an excellent firewall. They should be celebrated more!

As you may have noticed, cryptography is our bread and butter here on SSLs.com, given that it’s the underlying technology of SSL certificates. That’s why it’s fascinating to see how cryptography can be utilized in different contexts, one of the most exciting being blockchain. 

Last week on the SSLs blog, we discussed bots: what they are and what they’re used for. While many bots can be massively useful, they can also be designed for nefarious purposes. To combat the latter, many website owners undertake a strategy known as bot management. 

If you use the Internet somewhat regularly, you’ve likely encountered a bot (or several!) at some point, perhaps without even realizing it. If you haven’t, you’re an anomaly because bots are all over the Internet. Literally everywhere. In 2020, bot traffic accounted for nearly 40% of all Internet traffic. They’ll often have their own IP address and everything.

Confused about blockchain? If you are, you’re not the only one. Multiple surveys have shown that while the general perception of blockchain technology is largely positive, most people don’t really understand what it is or how it works.