If you’ve ever tried to visit a website and been hit by a warning message from your browser about security, then chances are that website doesn’t have an SSL certificate in place.
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity, enabling an encrypted connection between you and the server. This means that any data sent from your browser is encrypted, such as a form submission or payment information, which makes browsing more secure and prevents unauthorised access from third parties.
Why are SSL certificates important?
SSL certificates are important to prevent criminals from intercepting, reading, or modifying information submitted between users and websites. The encryption they provide scrambles the information as it’s sent, which prevents malicious third parties from reading it.
Without a certificate:
- Visitors may not trust your site if it looks unsafe
- Google ranks insecure sites lower in search results
- Payment systems won’t work properly without SSL
How are SSL certificates installed?
SSL certificates are installed through website hosting, so you’ll need to check with your hosting provider to find out the exact steps for this, or what options are available.
Many hosts offer free SSL certificates, or they include them in the price of your hosting package.
In short: SSL is essential. It takes minutes to set up and protects your site and your visitors.