If you’re running an online story, you need to have an SSL certificate as it boosts your credibility in terms of protecting your clients’ private information and their transactions.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security technology that’s used for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client, usually a website and a browser. It protects your clients’ private information, such as their social security number, credit card details, login details, etc.
The usual practice is that the date between the client and the server is communicated using plain text. This makes it easier for hackers to steal data. And if they do, they can use these data for their own personal gain.
When sharing confidential information online, you must see to it that a website can be trusted with your information, and so must have an SSL certificate. This can be seen on site that have a lock icon, together with a green address bar indicating that it’s an SSL-secured website.
How Is a Secure SSL Connection Created?
Whenever you access an SSL-secured website through a browser, an SSL handshake takes place. This occurs automatically and cannot be seen by the user. In order to set up an SSL connection, three keys are required:
- Public key
- Private key
- Session key
Things that are encrypted in the public key can be decrypted using the private key, and vice versa. Encryption and decryption with the private and public keys consume a lot of power, which is why they are limited during the handshake where a session key is created. This key will then be used to encrypt all transmitted data.
Basically, what happens is that:
- The browser will connect to the server using SSL.
- The browser requests for the server’s identification.
- SSL certificate will be sent by the server, including a public key.
- Browser will check validity of the SSL certificate.
- Once the certificate is verified, the browser will send back a session key with the use of the public key from the server.
- The session key is decrypted by the server using the private key.
- Both the browser and the server encrypts everything with the use of the session key.
Why Do I Need An SSL Certificate?
SSL encryption gives your customers peace of mind knowing that their private information is safe. This builds trust with your customers and they may choose to transact with you again in the future. What’s more, an SSL certificate helps keep hackers at bay and your business is protected from them.
BlueHost Free Shared SSL
Opening an account with BlueHost lets you have a free shared SSL certificate that you can use if you are on a shared IP address. Secured pages of your account will appear as https://secure.bluehost.com/-username wherein the username is your BlueHost account, as can be seen on the control panel.
Take note, however, that SSL certificates can only be used on your primary domain. If you want to have a private SSL certificate for your domain, you can request it from BlueHost, although you need a dedicated IP before installing the SSL certificate.
With regards to private SSL certificates, you are given two options:
- Purchase a private SSL certificate using the cPanel of Bluehost
- Install third party SSL certificate
Installing BlueHost SSL Certificate
Here are some of the benefits you’ll get if you order your SSL certificate via BlueHost:
- Automatic installation
- Instant validation
- Seal on website
- 128/256-bit encryption
The SSL certificate plays an important role in your website’s security. So get one with BlueHost today and boost your site’s credibility!