SSL

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the protocol that creates a secure, encrypted connection between a browser and a server. SSL creates an encrypted connection between your web server and your visitors’ web browser, that allows transmitting private information without the problems of eavesdropping, data tampering, or message forgery.

To use it, you must first obtain a certificate and install it on your web server. Certificates are typically installed on pages that require submitting sensitive information over the internet like credit card details or passwords. Example pages include payment pages, online forms and login pages. Sometimes certificates can be installed for personal websites or organizations websites.

SSL Certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details. When installed on a web server, it activates the padlock and the https protocol (over port 443) and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser.

An organization needs to install the SSL Certificate onto its web server to initiate secure sessions with browsers. Depending on the type of SSL Certificate applied, the organization will need to go through different levels of vetting. Once you have done the SSL installation, you can access a site securely by changing the URL from http:// to https://. When an SSL certificate is installed on a website, you can be sure that the information you enter (contact or credit card information), is secured and only seen by the organization that owns the website.

In order to set up or verify SSL certificate, you ought to contact your hosting provider. It must create secure folder/redirection for your domain, verify your DNS records, etc. Sometimes hosting providers may have free version of SSL (as usual with not friendly URL) or paid version (with https:// before domain name in URL). Types of SSL certificates also verify with your hosting provider or your SSL provider.

If you bought SSL certificate somewhere, please contact hosting provider to verify exact installation steps.