{"id":467,"date":"2019-07-31T14:03:10","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T14:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cheapsslsecurity.com\/p\/?p=467"},"modified":"2020-09-07T12:28:34","modified_gmt":"2020-09-07T12:28:34","slug":"how-do-i-find-my-comodo-ssl-certificate-private-key","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cheapsslsecurity.com\/p\/how-do-i-find-my-comodo-ssl-certificate-private-key\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Find My Comodo SSL Certificate Private Key?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let’s Understand How to Get Private Key from Certificate<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s always a good idea to know where your SSL certificates\u2019 private keys are located, as they are the key (pun intended) to authorizing that your domain is the real deal. Whether you\u2019re using a Comodo SSL certificate private key or one from another certificate authority (CA), it\u2019s vital that you know where it is and keep it safe. Why is it so important? Because anyone who gets access to your private keys can spoof your website since it will now be \u201cauthenticated\u201d with the compromised private key.<\/p>\n

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With the fake website, they can then proceed to phish your customers, perform a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack to steal your customer\u2019s data, or even defame your company. Even when you take the threat of having your website spoofed, you also need your Comodo SSL certificate\u2019s private key to install your SSL certificate, as this key serves as evidence that you (or anyone who gets access to it) owns the certificate being installed.<\/p>\n

Even if you may not have any immediate need for your private key, knowing where to find it and keeping it in a safe location is a basic cybersecurity precaution everyone should take. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve put together this step-by-step guide that explains how you can find your SSL certificate\u2019s private key. Before we dive into the process of finding your private key, though, let\u2019s discuss what a private key is and why it\u2019s a crucial to your business.<\/p>\n

What is a Comodo SSL Certificate Private Key?<\/h2>\n

A private key is a data file that acts as an authenticator for an SSL certificate when a browser attempts to connect to a website and check whether it is secure. Comodo CA (powered by Sectigo) just happens to be the certificate authority who issued the certificate. Along with your private key, there\u2019s also a public key that belongs to your certificate. During the encryption process, which is known as the SSL handshake, the public key encrypts the data being transferred, and only the private key can decrypt it on arrival.<\/p>\n

As I\u2019ll explain later, your private key was created automatically when you generated your certificate signing request (CSR). In case you don\u2019t remember whether you ever did this, you can review this guide on How to Generate a CSR<\/a>. (If you don\u2019t have an SSL certificate yet, you can click the button below to get one as low as $5.88\/yr. to secure your website!)<\/p>\n

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Once you\u2019ve got your CSR sorted out, you can start the process of locating your SSL certificate\u2019s private key. Simply follow the steps below and you\u2019ll have your private key in no time. Note: In this guide we use cPanel, but the process should be similar for other hosting platforms.<\/em><\/p>\n

How to Find Your Comodo Private Key<\/h2>\n
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  1. Login to cPanel. <\/strong>First, you\u2019ll need to login to your hosting control page. For cPanel, this can be found at https:\/\/domain.com:2083<\/a> (replace domain.com with your domain), and should look like this:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"Graphic:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Head to the \u201cSecurity\u201d section. <\/strong>After logging in, scroll down to \u201cSecurity\u201d, which looks like this:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"Graphic:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Click \u201cSSL\/TLS.\u201d <\/strong>This page should look as follows:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \"Graphic:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Choose the appropriate key.<\/strong> Since we\u2019re looking for our private key, click Generate, view, upload, or delete your private keys<\/strong>. Then, select Edit<\/strong> on the key you wish to locate. If you\u2019re not sure which key belongs to which certificate (in the event that you have more than one certificate), the description may contain some useful identifiers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \"Graphic:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Your private key will be located under \u201cEncoded Private Key\u201d. <\/strong>Once you\u2019re on the \u201cView Private Key\u201d page, your private key for the SSL certificate you selected will be under the \u201cEncoded Private Key\u201d field, including the \u201c—–BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY—–\u201d and \u201c—–END RSA PRIVATE KEY—–\u201d at the beginning and end of the encrypted key.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

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            1. You\u2019re done!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

               <\/p>\n

              A Few Tips on Protecting Your Comodo Private Key<\/h2>\n

              Now that you\u2019ve found your Comodo private key, you may be inclined to tell it to other people, write it down, or even save it someplace you consider \u201csafe.\u201d However, doing these things can actually put your SSL certificate\u2019s security at risk. As a rule of thumb, here\u2019s a brief guideline on precautions you should take when it comes to your Comodo SSL certificate private key:<\/p>\n