How to Get Free SSL Certificate for Your Website – The security of a website is of utmost importance. Having an SSL certificate these days is mandatory because of the increase in cyber-attacks and Google prioritizing websites with security certificates. An SSL certificate encrypts any data that is sent or received through the user’s browser, meaning that any passwords, personal information, and credit card details are protected.
Fortunately, getting an SSL certificate does not cost an arm and a leg. SSL certificates that are free can be acquired, making sure that the same encryption level is provided as compared to paid certificates. This guide aims to help you understand the process of acquiring a free SSL certificate.
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An SSL Certificate is best defined as…
Being a website-specific certificate, an SSL certificate allows a specific domain to establish its identity and create an encrypted channel. A website with an SSL certificate can be identified with the use of a “https://” link or a padlock icon in the address bar. Both of these indicate that this connection is secure and data can be exchanged safely between the user and the website.
SSL certificate helps in:
- Keeping personal data provided by the user secure.
- Building trust with site visitors.
- Improving website ranking as Google prefers HTTPS websites.
- Avoiding cyberattacks, for instance, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.
Reasons to use a free SSL certificate.
Free SSL Certificates are a good fit for small businesses, blogs, and startup sites because they provide the same level of encryption as paid certificates. Allow me to present some convincing arguments in favor of a free SSL certificate:
No Cost: Free SSL certificates do not require spending a lot of money in advance.
User Friendly: Many providers of hosting and SSL certificates offer one-click installation.
Widespread: Campaigns such as Let’s Encrypt provide free SSL certificates without restrictions to everyone.
Automatic Renewal: Some extend the services of free SSL by offering automatic renewal making maintenance easier.
On the other hand, free SSL certificates do not possess some advanced options available in the paid certificates, such as extended validation (EV) or warranties. For many, unless paying customers, small to mid-sized websites have no use, however free SSL Certificates truly supply all needs.
How to Acquire an SSL Certificate for free
Have no worries about paying hundreds of extra dollars to secure your website’s data, as there is a solution that can save you those expenses. A proper accruement of a free SSL certificate can be made by any individual, detailed explanation of these methods can be found below:
- In case you didn’t know already there is Let’s Encrypt.
Let’s Encrypt is a globally acknowledged organization, as it works with tons of companies by giving free certificates to thousands of users worldwide. This option is greatly commended when it comes to obtaining an SSL option.
Actions required to acquire the Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate: - Look into the hosting provider. Check whether your web hosting provider offers Let’sEncrypt. Most prominent hosts such as Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator do.
- Check into your hosting account and go to the section SSL/TLS. Sign into your hosting account and check a few tabs.
- Enable Let’s Encrypt. Go to a section where options for enabling Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificates exist, make sure to click those options as the prompts appear on the screen.
- Confirm certificate installation. Go to your website to make sure that a padlock sign appears on the upper left side of your browser. If in case it does this means that your attempt to install it went smoothly.
Most hosting On accounts offer automatic renewal hence updating the certificate becomes a hassle of the past. Although, Let’s Encrypt certificates do need to be verified every 90 days.
Use Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a content delivery network (CDN) that provides free SSL certificates. While your server does not directly integrate with Cloudflare’s SSL, your website is secured by it acting as a proxy.
Use the instructions below to obtain a free SSL certificate using Cloudflare:
- Join Cloudflare: Visit the website and create a free account.
- Input Your Website: Add the URL for your site and follow the setup steps provided.
- Change DNS Information: A new DNS nameserver will be given by Cloudflare. Change these with your domain registrar.
- Enable SSL: Go to the SSL/TLS section of the Cloudflare dashboard and change the SSL mode to either “Flexible,” “Full,” or “Full (Strict).”
- Confirm the Installation: After the website is configured, it will be free and secured with an SSL certificate.
If improving your website performance and security simultaneously is your goal, then Cloudflare’s SSL is perfect for you.
Hosting Provider
Most web hosting providers these days offer free SSL certificates with their hosting bundles. This method is arguably the most helpful in ensuring your website is secured, as the provider takes care of installation and renewal.
How to Get a Free SSL Certificate from Your Hosting Provider:
- Ensure your Hosting Plan: Log into your hosting account and see whether a free SSL is provided.
- Enable SSL: In the control panel of your hosting account, go to the SSL/TLS section and enable the certificate.
- Update your Website: Change every internal link and resource to use HTTPS instead of HTTP.
- Test Your Website: Check via tools like SSL Labs’ SSL Test whether the certificate has been installed properly.
- Use ZeroSSL
ZeroSSL is another widely used free SSL certificate provider. It has an easy-to-use interface and allows for single-domain as well as wildcard certificates.
How to Get a Free SSL Certificate Using ZeroSSL
- Create An Account: Go to the ZeroSSL website and create a free account.
- Generate a Certificate: Provide your domain name and follow the instructions to generate your certificate.
- Verify Domain Ownership: ZeroSSL will require you to verify the domain ownership by DNS or email.
- Download and Install: After verification has been done, download the certificate files and install them on the server.
- Configure Your Website: Modify your site to use the HTTPS protocol.
ZeroSSL certificates are free for 90 days, but you have the option to renew them manually or upgrade to a paid plan to increase that duration.
Guide on How to Set Up and Maintain Your Free SSL Certificate
Enforce HTTPS: Set up your website to automatically send all HTTP visitors to the HTTPS version. This way, all users will use the secure version of the site.
Change Internal Links: Make sure that all internal links and resources such as images are in the HTTPS format to prevent mixed content problems.
Keep Track of Expiry Dates: Most free SSL services renew automatically, but monitoring expiry dates is useful so your site doesn’t go offline.
Implement Security Headers: Use headers like HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) to make sure that connections can only be made securely using HTTPS.
Verify SSL: Check for possible issues with your configuration using SSL Labs’ SSL Test or Why No Padlock.
How to Get Free SSL Certificate
Getting an SSL certificate may seem expensive, however, securing your website, protecting user information, building trust, and improving rankings from search engines is very necessary. What most don’t know is that free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt, Cloudflare, and ZeroSSL are simple to install and provide exceptional encryption.
This guide provides steps that, when followed, will have your website secured with an SSL certificate in no time. Use this method whether you have a personal blog, a business online store, or a company website. Doing so will guarantee your website’s safety, reliability, and modern-day compatibility. Do not hesitate, to get your website secured today!
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