How to Install SSL for Godaddy WordPress Hosting
Many website owners decide to self-host their websites due to the many benefits that come with this type of hosting. Installing and using an SSL certificate to secure your site is one of the easiest things to do when hosting your own website. In this article, we will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to install and use an SSL certificate for your Godaddy WordPress hosting account.
Pick A Hosting Plan That Suits Your Needs
When choosing a web host to host your website, make sure that you pick one that suits your needs. If you are looking for an inexpensive yet simple option, then look no further as the 1-click installer for WordPress comes with hosting included. Other web hosts offer a free domain and you can install WordPress in just a few minutes. However, if you are looking for something more advanced, then consider looking at some of the other hosting plans offered by reputable web hosts such as Godaddy.
Visit The Support Website For Your New Host To Confirm Your Subscription Details
Before you start installing the SSL certificate for your site, you will need to confirm your subscription details with the web host. To do this, visit the support site of your new host and click on the subscription tab at the top of the page. You will then need to enter your email address and the code you received after subscribing. Make sure you save this email address and code as you will need them later.
Create A Unique Password For Your Subscription
If you are a frequent visitor to the support site of your web host then you will need to create a unique password for your account. To do this, click on the ‘Resources’ tab located at the top of the page and then click on ‘Settings’ next to the ‘My Account’ link.
In the resulting page, you will need to enter a new password twice and then click on the ‘Save Changes’ button.
Visit The Setup Website To Download And Install The SSL Certificate
Once you have confirmed your subscription details with your web host and have been given the green light to proceed, you can visit the setup site of your SSL certificate provider to download and install the certificate on your server. In most cases, this will be a zip file containing a set of files to be uploaded to your web host. Make sure you save this file to your desktop before continuing with the next step.
Visit The Dashboard Of Your Web Host To Confirm Your Installation
Now that you have downloaded the SSL certificate to your computer, you can unzip the file and then access the contents. Inside the folder, you will find a set of config files and a license agreement. To confirm that you have installed the certificate correctly, you will need to visit the dashboard of your web host. The dashboard is typically located at the address http://yourdomain.com/index.php in your browser. If you have installed the certificate correctly, you should see a padlock symbol in the address bar next to the domain name. Also, you will need to check that all the files inside the /var/www/vhosts/yourdomain.com/ directory are there and match the owner of the website.
If everything is correct, then you can go back to the SSL provider’s website and click on the ‘Activate’ button to begin using the SSL certificate for your site.
Type In The Details Required For The Certificate
If you are using a desktop computer then you will need to visit the SSL provider’s website one last time to enter the details required for the certificate. These details include your name, email address, and the website you want to secure (for example, http://yourdomain.com).
Once you have entered these details, click on the ‘Submit’ button to finish the installation.
Use The Command Line To Test Your Installation
To test your installation, you can use the command line on your computer. For example, if you are using Windows, you can try entering the following command in the command line:
“openssl s_client -querydomain yourdomain.com”
This will start up a secure connection to your server and display a list of information requested from the website. You can copy and paste this list into a spreadsheet or document to see how the information is presented.
There are a few things to notice about the command line approach to testing an SSL installation. First, make sure that you test it using the correct domain name for your site (for example, http://yourdomain.com instead of https://yourdomain.com).
Also, testing using the command line will give you a better idea of how SSL interacts with browsers as it will present the information exactly as it will be seen by a visitor to your site (for example, Google Chrome will indicate that the page is not secure).
Once you have confirmed that the information is correct, you can stop testing using the command line and use it for regular tasks.
If you are experiencing any problems, then visit the support page of your web host for help.