How to Add SSL to Your Website (And Why It’s Crucial for Security)

Preface

Are you looking to secure your website and build trust with your visitors? Adding an SSL certificate is a fundamental step in achieving this. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of adding SSL to your website and explain why it’s absolutely crucial for security. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience in web management, this post will provide you with the knowledge and steps you need to protect your site.

What is SSL and Why Does it Matter?

SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, is a security protocol that encrypts the communication between a user’s browser and the web server. Think of it as a secure tunnel that keeps sensitive information safe from hackers. When SSL is enabled, the website’s address in the browser changes from http:// to https://, and a padlock icon appears, indicating that the connection is secure.

But why is this so important? Here’s why:

• Security: SSL protects sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, and personal information from being intercepted by malicious actors.
• Trust: A secure website builds trust with visitors. Seeing the padlock icon assures them that their information is safe, making them more likely to engage with your site.
• SEO Ranking: Search engines like Google prioritize secure websites. Having an SSL certificate can boost your search engine ranking, helping more people find your site. Google officially announced this in 2014.
• Compliance: For certain types of websites, such as e-commerce sites that handle credit card information, having an SSL certificate is a requirement to comply with industry standards and regulations.

Types of SSL Certificates

Before diving into how to add SSL, let’s quickly go over the different types of SSL certificates available:

• Domain Validated (DV) SSL: This is the most basic type of SSL certificate. It verifies that you own the domain name. It’s quick and easy to obtain.
• Organization Validated (OV) SSL: This certificate verifies the organization’s information, providing an additional layer of trust. It requires more validation than DV SSL.
• Extended Validation (EV) SSL: This is the highest level of SSL certificate. It requires a thorough verification process and displays the organization’s name in the browser’s address bar, providing the highest level of trust to visitors.
• Wildcard SSL: A Wildcard SSL certificate secures your primary domain and all its subdomains with a single certificate. This is a cost-effective solution for websites with multiple subdomains.

How to Add SSL to Your Website

Now, let’s get into the step-by-step process of adding SSL to your website. The exact steps may vary depending on your hosting provider, but the general process is as follows:

Step 1: Choose a Hosting Provider that Offers SSL

Many hosting providers include a free SSL certificate as part of their hosting packages. When selecting a hosting provider, make sure they offer this feature. Some popular hosting providers that offer free SSL certificates include Bluehost (/go/bluehost), Dreamhost (/go/dreamhost), and Hostgator (/go/hostgator).

Hint: Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial for the performance and security of your website. Always research and compare different options before making a decision.

Step 2: Activate the SSL Certificate

Once you’ve chosen a hosting provider, you’ll need to activate the SSL certificate for your website. Here’s how to do it on some popular hosting platforms:

• cPanel: Log in to your cPanel account, find the ‘SSL/TLS’ section, and click on ‘Generate, view, upload, or delete SSL certificates.’ Follow the prompts to activate your SSL certificate.

  Info: cPanel is a popular web hosting control panel that makes it easy to manage your website’s settings.

• WordPress Hosting Providers: Most WordPress hosting providers like Bluehost (/go/bluehost), Dreamhost (/go/dreamhost), and Hostgator (/go/hostgator) offer one-click SSL activation. Simply log in to your hosting account, find the SSL settings, and activate the certificate.

Step 3: Install a Plugin to Enforce HTTPS

Even after activating the SSL certificate, some resources on your website may still be loaded over HTTP, which can compromise the security of your site. To ensure that all resources are loaded over HTTPS, you can install a WordPress plugin like ‘Really Simple SSL’.

Here’s how to install and activate Really Simple SSL:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to ‘Plugins’ > ‘Add New’.
3. Search for ‘Really Simple SSL’.
4. Click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate’.
5. Follow the plugin’s instructions to enable SSL.

// Sample code to redirect HTTP to HTTPS in .htaccess
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

Hint: Always back up your website before installing any new plugins. This will help you restore your site in case something goes wrong.

You can also manually redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS by adding the following code to your .htaccess file:

Step 4: Update Hardcoded URLs in Your Database

Sometimes, URLs within your WordPress database may be hardcoded to use HTTP instead of HTTPS. To fix this, you can use a plugin like ‘Better Search Replace’.

Here’s how to use Better Search Replace:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to ‘Plugins’ > ‘Add New’.
3. Search for ‘Better Search Replace’.
4. Click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate’.
5. Go to ‘Tools’ > ‘Better Search Replace’.
6. In the ‘Search for’ field, enter `http://yourwebsite.com`.
7. In the ‘Replace with’ field, enter `https://yourwebsite.com`.
8. Select all the tables.
9. Uncheck ‘Run as dry run?’ to make the changes.
10. Click ‘Run Search Replace’.

Info: Be very careful when making changes to your database. Always back up your database before running a search and replace.

Step 5: Test Your SSL Certificate

After completing the above steps, it’s important to test your SSL certificate to ensure that it’s working correctly. You can use online tools like the SSL Checker to verify that your certificate is valid and properly installed.

Common SSL Issues and How to Fix Them

Even after following the steps above, you may encounter some common SSL issues. Here are a few and how to fix them:

• Mixed Content Errors: This occurs when some resources on your page are loaded over HTTP while others are loaded over HTTPS. To fix this, ensure that all resources (images, scripts, stylesheets) are loaded over HTTPS. You can use the ‘Really Simple SSL’ plugin to automatically fix mixed content errors.
• Certificate Not Trusted: This can happen if the SSL certificate is not issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) or if the certificate is expired. To fix this, ensure that you’re using a valid certificate from a trusted CA and that the certificate is not expired.
• Redirect Loops: This occurs when there’s a conflict between the SSL redirect and other redirects on your site. To fix this, check your .htaccess file for conflicting redirect rules and adjust them accordingly.

The Future of Website Security

Website security is an evolving field, and SSL is just one piece of the puzzle. As technology advances, new threats emerge, and new security measures are developed. Staying informed about the latest security best practices is crucial for protecting your website and your visitors’ data.

Consider exploring other security measures such as:

• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): WAFs help protect your website from common web attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
• Regular Security Audits: Conducting regular security audits can help identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your website’s security.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implementing 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your website’s login process.

Also consider using sophisticated AI Plugins to keep your website up to date. Check out this article Top 10 Valuable AI Plugins for WordPress to Boost Your Blog to find out more.

Conclusion

Adding an SSL certificate to your website is a crucial step in ensuring security, building trust, and improving your search engine ranking. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily add SSL to your website and protect your visitors’ data. Remember to stay informed about the latest security best practices and take proactive measures to keep your website secure. With STARTMAKINGWEBSITES, you’re well-equipped to handle the security aspects of your website with ease and confidence.