How Does SSL/TLS Work?

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are security protocols that encrypt data as it travels across the internet, ensuring that information exchanged between your device and a website remains private and secure. These technologies are used to protect sensitive data, such as login credentials, personal information, and financial transactions, from interception or tampering.

How Does iRacing Use SSL/TLS?

iRacing uses SSL/TLS and SSL certificates to confirm that any data you send to us is securely transmitted to our genuine, verified websites. An SSL certificate acts as a digital ID that your browser checks to ensure that iRacing is the legitimate source of the website you're visiting. This process verifies that your connection is secure and prevents unauthorized parties from intercepting or modifying your data. All communication between a user’s computer and iRacing websites takes place over secure connections protected by SSL/TLS, whether in a browser, the iRacing application, or the mobile iRacing Companion App.

Making Purchases in a Browser

At times, iRacing may prompt you to complete your purchase or transaction in a browser rather than through the iRacing app. This step is important for several reasons:

  1. Enhanced Security: Browsers are equipped with modern security protocols to protect your sensitive information and are automatically kept up to date with fixes provided by the browser vendor. Completing your transaction in a fully up-to-date browser ensures your data is encrypted and securely transmitted over SSL.

  2. Direct Inspection: Using a browser allows you to see the SSL connection details directly. You can confirm that the SSL certificate is valid and that your connection is secure.

  3. Network Transparency: Browsers offer the ability to inspect network traffic, enabling you to verify that the data exchange is happening as expected and to identify any issues if they arise.

When you complete your transaction in a browser, you can feel confident that iRacing is providing a safe and secure platform for your purchases.