What is a .REQ file?
A .REQ file is a special kind of file that is used when someone needs to get a digital certificate, which is like a digital ID card for websites or people on the internet. This file contains a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), which is a way of asking for this digital ID. It includes details that prove who is asking for the certificate, kind of like filling out an application form with your name and address.
These .REQ files are then sent to organizations known as certificate authorities. Think of these authorities as the people who check your application and then issue you with your digital ID if everything checks out. This digital ID helps prove to anyone visiting a website that the site is really what it claims to be, making it safer to use.
To open and work with a .REQ file, you can use programs like OpenSSL, which is a tool for creating and managing security certificates and keys, or Microsoft Exchange Server, which is a program used by businesses for their emails, calendars, and more. Both of these can handle the information in .REQ files to help with getting a digital certificate.
In simpler terms, CSRs and the .REQ files they come in are part of how the internet makes sure that websites are secure and that the people running them are who they say they are. This helps keep everyone's information safe online.
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