Low assurance certificates include only your domain name in the certificate. Certificate Authorities usually verify that you own the domain name by checking the WHOIS record. The certificate can be issued instantly and is cheaper but, as the name implies, these certificates provide less assurance to your customers.
Medium assurance domain validated Certificates similar to the low assurance ones, but in addition they provide you with a dynamic Site Seal, clicking on which your customers will be able to verify the domain name and validation period for which the Certificate is issued.
High assurance certificates include your domain name as well as business registration details (company name, address, city, state and country) on the certificate. The certificate authority will verify your ownership of the domain name and business registration (you will be asked to submit a few documents). It can take from a few hours to a few days for a high assurance certificate to be issued depending on when you submit the necessary documents.
Very High assurance is available only with Extended Validation Certificates which are issued within 10 business days and require more paperwork than OV Certificates. Benefits of this type of certificates are: Green Bar and business name in the address bar.
Because of the additional validation steps that you need to pass through before high and very high assurance certificates can be issued, these certificates are a significant tool in preventing phishing and online fraud.
