A digital certificate is an electronic document used to prove the identity of a website, organization, or individual online. Issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA), it contains information such as the certificate holder's name, a public key, and the CA's digital signature. Digital certificates are essential for establishing secure, encrypted connections - like HTTPS - ensuring that users are communicating with legitimate entities. While they enhance trust and security on the internet, cybercriminals can sometimes misuse digital certificates to make malicious software or fraudulent websites appear trustworthy.