How to Install an SSL on Your WordPress Site Using WordPress Plugins
Encrypted Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol used to secure websites. It offers protection against hackers and eavesdroppers who may try to eavesdrop on communications sent over the internet between a customer and a website.
Installing an SSL certificate on your WordPress site is a great way to protect your customers’ personal information as well as your own.
Here’s how to install an SSL on your WordPress site using WordPress plugins.
The Importance of SSL Security
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re already aware of the importance of SSL security and the threats that it covers. Still, here are a few interesting stats to emphasize the point.
Every three seconds, someone is trying to hack into an online account. 74% of all online attacks are targeted at businesses that don’t use SSL security.
70% of businesses consider SSL security to be either very important or extremely important when choosing a web host.
The vast majority of businesses (79%) feel that the cost of keeping their websites secure is either very affordable or affordable, but they consider the benefits to be invaluable.
How to Install an SSL on Your WordPress Site
WordPress has a wide variety of free and premium plugins that can help you install an SSL on your site. In this article, we’ll cover three of the most popular free WordPress plugins that can be used to install the SSL protocol on your site.
Let’s Encrypt
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already aware of Let’s Encrypt and how it provides free SSL certificates for your website. What you may not know is that Let’s Encrypt is actually a special type of certificate authority (CA) called a Let’s Encrypt Authority (LEA). A LEA is essentially a cross between a regular CA and a regular certification authority. After verifying the identity of the website owner, Let’s Encrypt will issue a secure certificate that is valid for one year with a $0 cost to maintain.
This certificate is great for quickly securing an under-construction site or for those that are just testing the waters with a blog. It’s also a popular choice for those who want to keep their personal information secure when visiting websites that store personal information.
Let’s Encrypt is a fully automated process that handles the complex part of certificate issuance while you focus on growing your business.
Automatic Web Server SSL
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution, you can also consider Automatic Web Server SSL. Similar to Let’s Encrypt, Automatic Web Server SSL provides free SSL certificates for your website, but it also includes several other features that make it a preferred choice for more advanced users. With Automatic Web Server SSL, you can specify multiple domains and sub-domains, hostnames, and select a wildcard (*) to secure all your sub-domains and domains with a single certificate.
As a site owner, you also have the option of adding headers, meta tags, and web server configs to automatically apply the SSL certificate to. When visiting a site with an automatically applied SSL certificate, you’ll see a small lock icon in the address bar and a warning that your connection is secure.
You can also use the built-in HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to force all your site’s traffic to go through encrypted connections. HSTS is a protocol that helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks by ensuring that all communications between a user and a website they visit are always secured. It’s a great choice for larger organizations that want to ensure that everyone on their network is always secure when connecting to websites.
Free SSL For Ever (Sealed Coin)
Sealed Coin provides a premium version of their product that functions exactly like the free version but includes the ability to install up to five SSL certificates on your website for free. In some situations, this can be a cheaper option than buying a LEA from Let’s Encrypt.
This solution is great for those who want to install a secure site and don’t have the budget for a premium product.
Sealed Coin also provides optional affiliate marketing solutions that can be leveraged to create a monetized online presence for your site, blog, or platform.
Why Use WordPress Plugins to Install an SSL?
Even though we just mentioned three plugins that can be used to install an SSL on your WordPress site, there are actually dozens more that can be used to handle the complex tasks involved in applying the security protocol. Here are a few reasons why WordPress plugins are a great choice for installing an SSL.
They Are Easy to Use
One of the primary advantages of using WordPress plugins is that they are easy to use. With just a few clicks of a button or two, you can have an SSL installed on your site in a matter of minutes. This makes it a great choice for those who want to quickly secure their site or who are just testing the waters with a small blog. Even those who are technically savy will find it easy to use the plugins we mentioned above to install an SSL.
They Are Lightweight
Another great thing about the plugins we mentioned above is that they are lightweight. This means that they don’t take up a lot of space on your site, which is essential for those who are running a server with limited resources. In some cases, the installation process alone takes up less than a megabyte of space, which is a small price to pay for such a convenient solution.
They Are Cross-platform
WordPress plugins work on every major operating system, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it a great choice for those who want to ensure their site is portable across different computer systems. In addition, you don’t have to republish the plugins if you update your WordPress software. This is huge in terms of maintaining a regularly updated and secure website.
Security Considerations
Even though we mentioned above that an SSL certificate protects against hackers and eavesdroppers, it doesn’t protect against all security risks. You need to consider a few things before installing one on your site. First, make sure that you trust the certificate authority that is issuing the certificate.
This is especially important if you are installing a certificate on a site that you do not own. The best way to ensure that you are choosing a reputable company is to examine their reputation based on reviews from previous customers. In addition, make sure that the certificate is not expired.
If you are planning on installing an SSL on your site, the best thing to do is to contact the company that you’ve chosen to get the certificate and ask them about the various security measures (DNS challenges, HTTP redirects, IPv6 restrictions) that you need to follow.