What is an SSL certificate?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is an encryption-based internet protocol used to encrypt data between the web server and the end user using a private/public key pair. It was first used by Netscape back in 1995.
An SSL certificate is used to verify that the site your customer is visiting is the actual site for that domain and not a spoofed version. It uses the public/private key pair for this purpose.
Certificate Authorities provide SSL certificates, which can be purchased from any SSL certificate vendor, including us, through your client area.
Learn more about SSL certificates available from Christian Web Host now.
Why do I need an SSL?
In the past, the only sites that would “need” an SSL certificate were sites that collect private information or credit card information. Typically, any site that sells goods or services.
However, recently, most internet browsers have begun to warn users that a site without SSL encryption is “insecure.” While technically correct, if your site is not collecting any private data, encryption should not be necessary. However, when your customers see that your site is insecure, they may perceive it as dangerous and choose to go elsewhere.
Another reason for having an SSL certificate is that Google rates sites with SSL certificates higher than sites without. Installing an SSL certificate will help your site rank higher in Google searches.
How do you determine if a site is SSL-protected?
Most browsers will show a lock icon to the left of the site address in the address bar. This lock is typically green, but its appearance may vary depending on your browser and theme settings.
If the site is not encrypted, you will see a warning indicating that encryption is not in use. It could be a written warning or an image of a lock with a line through it.
The address bar should also start with https://. This shows that the site is encrypted. If it shows http:// or nothing before the domain name, assume it is not encrypted.
What types of SSL certificates are available?
From the client area, you can purchase either a regular SSL certificate or a wildcard SSL certificate.
The primary difference between these two certificates is that a regular SSL certificate only protects the domain (e.g., example.com and www.example.com), whereas a wildcard SSL certificate protects the domain and all its subdomains (e.g., example.com, *.example.com, where * is a wildcard and can be any value).
For most websites, a standard SSL certificate should suffice. However, this would only protect the main domain site and the www. subdomain. Any other subdomains you use would require an additional SSL certificate for that domain.
For example, let's say you have a site at example.com and a blog at blog.example.com. The regular certificate will protect example.com and www.example.com, but not blog.example.com.
You could then purchase a second SSL certificate for blog.example.com to protect it. If you then wish to create additional subdomains, you will need to buy an SSL certificate for each one.
In contrast, a wildcard SSL certificate will cover your main domain and all of your subdomains. Even if you only have one other subdomain that you want to protect, it may be worth it to get a wildcard SSL certificate to cover them all. This wildcard SSL certificate will also work for any future subdomains that you add to your domain.
A wildcard SSL certificate also helps with some mail clients if you use mail.[yourdomain] for your server/host name.
How do I purchase an SSL certificate?
You can purchase an SSL certificate from within your client area.
Step 1: Go to: https://manage.christianwebhost.com/ or click the "Login" button located at the top right of our website. Unless you change them, your login details are the email address and password used when the account was created.
Step 2: Once logged in, you can add the SSL certificate product in many different ways:
- Click Order New Services from the Shortcuts menu on the left.
- From your My Services page, click Place a New Order in the Actions menu on the left.
- From your My Domains page, you can purchase an SSL certificate for your domain if you currently do not have one installed (the red lock icon indicates any domains that are not SSL-protected).
Step 3: Once you reach the Shopping Cart page, click Security Products from the Categories menu on the left. You will now see the options for both a regular SSL certificate and a wildcard SSL Certificate.
Step 4: Click the Order Now button below your chosen SSL certificate.
Step 5: You will now be on the confirmation screen, where you will be asked to select the domain for which you are purchasing an SSL. Choose the domain you are purchasing the SSL for:
- For a regular SSL certificate, enter the domain name or the subdomain name here.
- For a wildcard SSL certificate, enter the domain name that you want to secure.
Step 6: After entering the domain, click Continue on the right to proceed to checkout.
Step 7: After purchasing an SSL certificate for your domain, you will receive an email from our support staff within 24 hours, requesting the contact information associated with the SSL certificate. You can simply reply to that email with the requested information.
Step 8: Once we receive the information, we will proceed with setting up and installing the SSL certificate. We will also redirect traffic to the secure HTTPS protocol.
Step 9: After installation, you should now see the lock icon in the address bar when visiting your site. You may need to clear your browser cache before the site shows as secure.
Step 10: SSL certificates are valid for one year and will automatically renew. If you do not wish to renew the certificate, you must request cancellation before the certificate renewal invoice is processed.