If you run a WordPress website, you may be concerned about the security of your visitors’ data. One way to protect their information is by installing an SSL certificate, which encrypts data transmitted between your site and your visitors’ browsers. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get a free SSL certificate for your WordPress site.
Understand what an SSL certificate is and why it’s important.
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts data transmitted between a website and its visitors’ browsers. This encryption ensures that any sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card details, cannot be intercepted by hackers or other malicious actors. Having an SSL certificate is important for building trust with your visitors and protecting their data. Additionally, Google now considers SSL certificates as a ranking factor, so having one can also improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).
Choose a web hosting provider that offers free SSL certificates.
The first step to getting a free SSL certificate for your WordPress website is to choose a web hosting provider that offers this service. Many web hosting companies now offer free SSL certificates as part of their hosting packages, so it’s worth doing some research to find one that suits your needs. Some popular web hosting providers that offer free SSL certificates include Krystal and IONOS. Once you’ve chosen a web hosting provider, you can usually install the SSL certificate with just a few clicks from your hosting account dashboard.
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For SSL, I have tended to use Krystal. Krystal are a UK based, highly rated company that offer a number of hosting packages that range from being cost effective to enterprise level hosting.
If you like a larger, more well known hosting provider you can use IONOS, which offer great deals with fantastic customer support. Find out more about their services here.
Install the SSL certificate on your WordPress site.
Once you’ve chosen a web hosting provider that offers a free SSL certificate and have activated it, the next step is to install it on your WordPress site. This can usually be done through your hosting account dashboard or through a plugin like Really Simple SSL. Once installed, your website will display the secure padlock icon in the browser address bar, indicating to visitors that their data is being encrypted and protected. It’s important to note that while a free SSL certificate can provide basic security for your website, it may not offer the same level of protection as a paid certificate.
Update your site’s settings to use HTTPS.
After installing your free SSL certificate, you’ll need to update your site’s settings to use HTTPS instead of HTTP. This can be done in the WordPress dashboard under Settings > General. Simply change the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to include “https://” instead of “http://”. You may also need to update any internal links within your site to use HTTPS as well. This will ensure that all traffic to and from your site is encrypted and secure.
Test your SSL certificate to ensure it’s working properly.
Once you’ve installed your free SSL certificate and updated your site’s settings to use HTTPS, it’s important to test your certificate to ensure it’s working properly. One way to do this is to use an online SSL checker tool, such as SSL Labs or Qualys SSL Labs. These tools will scan your site and provide a report on the status of your SSL certificate, including any potential security vulnerabilities. It’s important to regularly test your SSL certificate to ensure that your site remains secure and your visitors’ data is protected.
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