What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate is like an ID card for your website. It proves the site is real and keeps the data between visitors and your site private. The padlock in the address bar shows it is working.
What does "Verified by: Not Specified" mean?
Firefox lists who issued the certificate in a field called "Verified by". Every certificate is signed by a Certificate Authority, often shortened to CA. A CA is a trusted company that hands out these ID cards.
Some certificates do not fill in the organization name of the CA. Then Firefox has no name to show, so it writes "Not Specified". This is only a display matter. It does not mean your certificate is broken.
Is my site safe?
Usually yes. If you see the padlock and no warning page, the certificate is trusted. Firefox uses its own list of trusted CAs, so it shows details a little differently from other browsers.
Steps to check your certificate
- Open your website in Firefox.
- Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
- Click Connection secure.
- Click More information.
- Click View Certificate.
- Look at the Issuer Name section. It shows the CA that signed your certificate.
- Look at the dates under Validity. Make sure the certificate has not expired.
When it can be a real problem
- You see a warning page instead of your site.
- The certificate is expired.
- The name on the certificate does not match your domain.
- The certificate is missing its "chain". The chain is the set of linked certificates that connects yours to the trusted CA, like a family tree.
If the chain is missing, install the intermediate certificate (also called the CA bundle) next to your main certificate. Your certificate provider usually sends it with the files.
Quick recap
- "Not Specified" only means the CA name was left blank.
- A padlock and no warning means the certificate works.
- Check the issuer, dates and domain name in the certificate viewer.
- Install the CA bundle if the chain is incomplete.
- Ask support if you still see warnings.