What is SSL? A Comprehensive Guide to Website Security
As a website owner, protecting your site and your visitors‘ sensitive information should be a top priority. One of the most important security measures you can implement is an SSL certificate. But what exactly is SSL, how does it work, and why does your website need it?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into the world of SSL – from the basics of how it keeps websites secure to step-by-step instructions for adding SSL to your WordPress site. Let‘s get started!
What is SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It‘s a security protocol that creates an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. When a website has SSL enabled, all data passing between the server and browser remains private and secure.
You can tell a website is using SSL when you see a padlock icon in your browser‘s address bar and the site‘s URL begins with "https://" instead of "http://". For example, if you look at the address bar right now, you‘ll see that WPBeginner uses SSL to keep your visit secure.
SSL works through a process called the SSL "handshake". When a browser attempts to access a website secured with SSL, the browser and server first establish an encrypted connection. They do this by:
- The browser requests that the server identify itself.
- The server sends a copy of its SSL certificate to the browser.
- The browser checks that the SSL certificate is valid and trustworthy.
- If everything checks out, the browser creates a unique session key to establish a secure connection.
This entire process takes just milliseconds and happens behind-the-scenes without interrupting your browsing experience. The end result is that any data exchanged between your browser and the website‘s server is encrypted and extremely difficult for hackers to intercept and decipher.
SSL vs TLS vs HTTPS – What‘s the Difference?
You may have also heard the terms TLS and HTTPS in relation to website security. So what‘s the difference between SSL, TLS, and HTTPS? Here‘s a quick breakdown:
SSL is the original protocol developed for securing online data transfer. The most recent version of SSL is 3.0, released back in 1996.
TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the successor to SSL. TLS is an updated, more secure version of SSL. The terms SSL and TLS are often used interchangeably now.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP, which is the protocol for transferring data between a browser and website. When a website uses SSL/TLS to encrypt the HTTP connection, it is referred to as HTTPS.
So in summary – SSL and TLS refer to the security technology that enable HTTPS, while HTTPS refers to the secure version of transferring web page data using SSL/TLS encryption.
Why Your Website Needs SSL
In the past, it was primarily ecommerce websites collecting sensitive information like credit card numbers that used SSL. However, today SSL is important for ALL websites, not just online stores. Here‘s why:
Security and Visitor Trust
No matter what type of website you have, chances are your visitors are sharing some level of personal information with you – from their email address to create an account to personal details submitted through your contact form. An SSL certificate signals to visitors that you take their privacy and security seriously.Avoid "Not Secure" Warnings
Beginning in 2018, Google Chrome started labeling all websites without SSL as "Not Secure". Other browsers have since followed suit. This means if your website does not have SSL, visitors will see a warning that may cause them to leave your site.SEO Benefits
Google has stated that SSL is a ranking factor in their search algorithm. While not as major an impact as factors like site speed and mobile friendliness, using SSL can still give your site a slight edge in search rankings. SSL also prevents referrer data from being stripped away when traffic moves from a secure site to a non-secure site, giving you more accurate analytics.PCI Compliance for Ecommerce
If your website processes credit card payments, you are required to have an SSL certificate as part of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Failure to comply with PCI standards can result in hefty fines.Additional Security Features
Some SSL certificates come with additional benefits beyond encryption. For example, some certificates offer a warranty that will pay a visitor if they suffer a loss due to a certificate flaw. High-end SSL certificates also require more thorough identity verification of the website owner for greater assurance.
How to Get an SSL Certificate for Your WordPress Website
Now that you understand the importance of SSL, you‘re probably wondering "How do I get an SSL certificate for my WordPress site?". The good news is that adding SSL to WordPress is fairly straightforward – and there are even free options available.
Most web hosting providers, including WP Engine, Bluehost, and SiteGround, now offer free SSL certificates to their customers through Let‘s Encrypt. Let‘s Encrypt is a non-profit certificate authority providing free SSL/TLS certificates in an effort to create a more secure and privacy-respecting web.
If your hosting plan does not come with a free SSL certificate, you have the option to purchase one from a reputable third-party certificate provider. Some popular paid SSL certificate providers include:
- Comodo
- Symantec
- GeoTrust
- RapidSSL
- GoDaddy
Paid SSL certificates offer a few advantages over free certificates:
- Longer validity periods (1-2 years vs 90 days for Let‘s Encrypt)
- Warranty to pay customers in case of a breach
- More thorough validation of the domain owner‘s identity
However, for many websites – especially smaller blogs and businesses – a free SSL certificate from Let‘s Encrypt provides adequate security and is the most economical option. The important thing is that you have SSL enabled, whether through a free or paid certificate.
How to Install an SSL Certificate on Your WordPress Site
Once you‘ve obtained an SSL certificate, you need to install and configure it properly on your website to avoid errors. Here‘s how to set up SSL on WordPress with common hosts:
WP Engine: WP Engine automatically pre-installs free Let‘s Encrypt certificates on your site. Simply log in to your WP Engine dashboard and navigate to SSL to verify your certificate is active.
Bluehost: All Bluehost WordPress hosting plans come with a free SSL certificate. Log in to your Bluehost dashboard and click "Manage Site". Select "Security", then "SSL Certificate" to automatically install your certificate.
SiteGround: A Let‘s Encrypt SSL certificate comes included with all SiteGround WordPress hosting plans. From your Site Tools dashboard, select "Security", "SSL Manager", then "Get You Free SSL Certificate" and follow the activation steps.
If using a paid third-party SSL certificate, you may need to go through some additional steps:
Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) through your web hosting control panel. This is a block of encoded text with information about your domain and company.
Submit your CSR to the certificate provider. They will verify your information and issue the SSL certificate to you.
Download the SSL certificate files from your provider. There should be a certificate file (.crt) and a private key file (.key).
Install the SSL certificate on your hosting server, either by uploading the files through your control panel or contacting your hosting support for assistance.
Whether using a free or paid SSL certificate, there are a couple other important steps to ensure a smooth transition:
Update your WordPress settings to use "https" instead of "http". Go to Settings > General and change your "WordPress Address" and "Site Address" to use https.
Set up redirects from HTTP to HTTPS so search engines and visitors accessing your old HTTP links will get automatically sent to the secure HTTPS version. Most hosting providers can assist with this or you can use a WordPress plugin.
Update hard-coded internal links within your content, navigation menu, etc. from http to https. Leaving internal links as http can cause "mixed content" errors.
Troubleshooting Common SSL Issues
While installing SSL on WordPress is usually straightforward, you may occasionally run into issues like SSL connection errors or mixed content warnings. Some common SSL problems and how to fix them:
SSL Connection Error: This usually indicates an issue with the SSL certificate installation. Double check that your SSL certificate is properly installed on your server and matches your domain name exactly.
Mixed Content Warnings: This happens when a page is loaded over https but some resources (like images or scripts) are still being loaded over http. To fix, ensure all resources are being loaded using relative URLs or the https version of the absolute URL.
Redirect Loops: If you‘ve forced SSL and set up HTTP to HTTPS redirects but haven‘t updated your WordPress settings to https, you may get stuck in an infinite redirection loop. Update your WordPress URL settings as described above to resolve.
If you continue running into issues with your SSL setup, reach out to your hosting provider for assistance. They can help troubleshoot SSL problems specific to your server configuration.
The Future of SSL
As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the importance of encrypting sensitive information passing between your site and visitors‘ browsers will only increase. Google has indicated they would like to see all websites adopt SSL.
As of August 2022, SSL usage across the web hit a new milestone – with 80% of web pages in Chrome in the US now being served over HTTPS. This is an increase from just over 50% in 2017.
Even as new security technologies emerge, experts predict SSL/TLS will remain a core part of website security for the foreseeable future. Continuing to evolve these protocols to address new threats will be key to maintaining a trusted web.
The Bottom Line
The web is moving rapidly toward a more secure future with SSL/HTTPS encryption as standard practice. As a WordPress site owner, enabling SSL is one of the simplest yet most impactful steps you can take to protect your site and visitors.
Whether you opt for a free SSL certificate provided through your web host or purchase one from a trusted certificate authority, installing SSL will help you avoid security warnings, establish trust with your audience, and stay in good standing with search engines.
Still have questions about SSL or how to implement it properly on your WordPress site? Drop us a comment below!
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