Did you know that 4.1 million websites are infected with malware at any given moment? Approximately 70% of consumers feel that businesses are not taking adequate steps to protect their personal information.
Building a secure website is more than essential. Visitors expect their data to be protected, and search engines reward sites for prioritizing security. The good news? Securing your website with an SSL certificate doesn’t have to cost a thing.
Whether you’re launching an online store or managing a business site, adding an SSL certificate protects your visitors, helps build trust, and improves your site’s visibility.
This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of setting up your SSL certificate. You can activate SSL quickly and easily. With a secure SSL connection, your website will be safer for users and more trusted by search engines. Let’s dive right in!
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is an essential security tool for any website. It encrypts the data exchanged between your site and its visitors. It ensures sensitive information such as payment cards and data security are protected from potential hackers or unauthorized access. Essentially, SSL creates a secure connection between your site and your users so they can confidently share their information.
Websites without SSL are often flagged as “Not Secure” by browsers, which can scare away visitors and damage your credibility. Additionally, Google Chrome tends to rank websites with SSL certificates higher in search results. Having an SSL certificate can help boost your SEO performance.
SSL certificate works by changing HTTP to HTTPS, with the added ‘S’ representing ‘Secure.’ This change activates the padlock icon next to your URL in the browser. This icon serves as an indicator that your site is safe, which helps users feel more confident when they visit and share information.
Why you need a free SSL certificate for WordPress
A free SSL certificate for WordPress website is a must to ensure your site’s security. It improves search engine performance and builds user confidence. Let’s understand some of the common factors:
Enhances security: SSL certificate is essential for protecting sensitive information like passwords and credit card details. SSL secures the connection between your website and visitors. This ensures hackers can’t steal or tamper with their information.
Better search engine ranking: SSL certificates do more than just boost security. They can also give you an advantage in search rankings. Google and other search engines look for SSL as a ranking factor so that the sites are more likely to show up higher in search results. If you aim to boost your visibility and attract more traffic, having an SSL certificate is necessary.
Improves user trust: Security signs like the padlock icon in the browser show visitors that their information is safe. This builds trust and makes users more likely to interact with your site, whether they’re making a purchase or signing up for services.
Prevent phishing: Another benefit of SSL certificates is that they help prevent phishing attacks. Phishing is when hackers create fraudulent websites to trick users into giving up personal information. SSL certificates make it harder for attackers to impersonate your site, as users will notice the absence of an HTTPS connection. This extra layer of protection gives your users confidence that they’re visiting the legitimate version of your website.
How to install a free SSL certificate on WordPress (Step-by-step)
Now that you’re ready to secure your WordPress site, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you install and configure a free SSL certificate for your WordPress site:
Step 1: Log in to your web hosting account and navigate to your site
Begin by logging into your web hosting account. Once logged in, go to the hosting account’s cPanel dashboard or a similar dashboard provided by your host. Locate your website that you wish to secure.
Note that your web hosting control panel might look different depending on your hosting company.
Step 2: Enable the free SSL certificate in the control panel
In the control panel, find the Security section. You should see an option to enable a free SSL certificate, which is commonly offered by hosting providers via services like Let’s Encrypt. Activate the SSL for your site by following the prompts.
Step 3: Update WordPress to use HTTPS
After enabling the SSL certificate, you’ll need to configure WordPress to use HTTPS instead of HTTP. There are two ways to do this:
- Manually: Go to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Settings > General. Update both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields from “http://” to “https://.”
- Using a Plugin: Install a plugin like Really Simple SSL to handle the transition. This plugin automatically detects your SSL certificate and updates your URLs to use HTTPS.
Step 4: Test your SSL certificate
Once your SSL certificate is activated and your WordPress settings are updated, it’s time to test it. Visit your website and check if your URL starts with https:// and if the padlock icon is visible in the browser’s address bar. This indicates that your SSL certificate is installed correctly and your site is secure.
How to Get a Free SSL Certificate with Bluehost
One of the standout benefits of Bluehost is that all of its WordPress hosting plans come with a free SSL certificate provided by Let’s Encrypt. This means that from the moment you set up your website, it’s equipped with the protection and trustworthiness that an SSL certificate brings. No extra fees, no complicated setup. With just a few clicks, your site is secured. Bluehost ensures your website is safe for visitors from day one.
Let’s Encrypt is a nonprofit certificate authority that provides free SSL certificates to help websites create secure, encrypted connections. It allows website owners to automatically obtain and renew the SSL certificate installed without needing to purchase one from a paid provider. These certificates enable HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), which encrypts the data shared between a user’s browser and your website.
It is also trusted by major browsers and search engines. With this, visitors will see the reassuring padlock icon in their address bar, meaning your site is secure. The integration of Let’s Encrypt into Bluehost’s hosting plans means you get a reliable and automatic SSL solution, keeping your website secure with minimal effort.
Step-by-step guide to activating SSL in Bluehost’s cPanel
Activating your SSL is a quick and straightforward process that can be done directly from Bluehost’s user-friendly control panel (cPanel). Here’s how:
- Log in to your Bluehost Account
- From your dashboard, go to the “My Sites” tab and locate the WordPress website you want to secure.
- Click “Manage Site” and head to the “Security” tab. You’ll see the option to enable your free SSL certificate. Simply toggle the switch to “On.”
- After enabling free SSL, it may take a few minutes for the changes to take effect. Once the certificate is activated, you’ll notice the URL changes from HTTP to HTTPS, along with the padlock icon, signifying that your site is secure.
That’s it! With Bluehost, setting up an SSL certificate for your WordPress website is effortless and requires only a few clicks. Bluehost automatically renews your SSL certificate, so you never have to worry about your site becoming unsecured.
Common issues encountered when installing SSL
Even though installing free SSL certificates on your website is typically straightforward, issues can sometimes arise. Here’s what you can do to fix common problems:
Mixed content warnings
After installing an SSL certificate, your site may still load some content over HTTP, which triggers a “mixed content” warning. This usually happens with images, scripts, or stylesheets that still use the old HTTP URLs. To fix this:
- Install plugins like Really Simple SSL to automatically update all URLs to HTTPS.
- Manually update any hardcoded HTTP links in your site’s theme or settings to HTTPS.
SSL certificate not recognized
If your SSL certificate isn’t recognized, double-check that it’s properly installed and activated. Most web hosting companies have a tool to confirm if the certificate is active. If it’s not, try reinstalling the certificate or contacting your hosting provider for support.
Site not redirecting to HTTPS
Sometimes, your site may not automatically redirect visitors to the HTTPS version. You can fix this by:
- Adding a redirect rule in your site’s .htaccess file
- Using a plugin like Really Simple SSL to handle HTTPS redirects automatically
Expired or self-signed certificates
If you encounter errors due to an expired SSL certificate, make sure to renew it through your hosting provider or SSL service. When using a self-signed certificate, consider switching to a certificate issued by a trusted authority like Let’s Encrypt for broader browser support.
If you’ve tried the above solutions and still have issues, don’t hesitate to contact your hosting provider or SSL service support. They can often troubleshoot more complex problems related to your specific server setup or hosting environment.
By addressing these common issues, you can ensure your SSL certificate functions properly, keeping your site secure and your visitors protected.
Paid SSL certificates: Are they worth it?
Paid SSL certificates go beyond the standard encryption provided by free options. They often come in three types
- Domain Validation (DV)
- Organization Validation (OV)
- Extended Validation (EV)
While Domain Validation simply verifies that the domain is owned by the website operator, Organization and Extended Validation require more rigorous checks. With OV and EV SSL certificates, the certificate authority verifies the identity and legitimacy of the business. This gives the visitors a higher level of confidence when visiting the site.
For businesses, especially those handling sensitive transactions, paid SSL certificates offer added trust signals like the green address bar and warranty protections. This can boost customer confidence and improve conversion rates. A free SSL certificate provides basic protection, while a paid SSL offers extra security and assurance that businesses need. A free SSL certificate is a solid starting option but paid SSL certificates are ideal for businesses that focus on building trust and maximizing security.
Summary
Browsing the web does come with risks but getting an SSL certificate is a key to protecting both your site visitors and your own data. The best part is that you can get an SSL certificate for free through many WordPress hosting companies, like Bluehost.
This means securing your website and gaining the trust of your visitors doesn’t have to come with an extra cost. Many reputable hosting companies, including Bluehost, offer SSL certificates as part of their hosting plans, ensuring your site is protected right from the start.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
For most small websites and blogs, a free SSL certificate provides sufficient protection. However, businesses handling sensitive data might benefit from a paid SSL, which offers additional validation and security features.
Yes! Bluehost provides free SSL certificates with all its hosting plans, making it easy for you to secure your WordPress site at no additional cost. You can activate it directly from your Bluehost account with just a few clicks.
HTTP is the standard protocol for data transfer on the web, while HTTPS is the secure version that encrypts the data exchange. The extra ‘S’ in HTTPS stands for ‘secure,’ and it shows that your site is protected by an SSL certificate.
If you experience issues, such as a mixed content warning, Bluehost’s support team is available 24/7 to help resolve any problems. You can also use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to fix common issues automatically.
No need to worry! Bluehost automatically renews your free SSL certificate, so you never have to worry about it expiring or deal with manual renewals. SSL enabled websites will remain secure without any interruptions or extra effort on your part.
