Free SSL’s for everyone (Let’s Encrypt)
Free SSL’s for Everyone!
Thats right, Free, Domain Name Validated SSL’s for everyone. Let’s Encrypt is making it possible for every website owner to obtain an SSL (at Zero Cost). Provided by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG) and operated for the public’s benefit, Lets Encrypt issues secure certificates for your website that are absolutely free (no strings attached). Too good to be true? No need to worry, Let’s Encrypt is a serious project supported by companies like Cisco, Chrome, Facebook, Mozilla, Akamai and many more. The goal? To provide free, automatic and secure certificates so every website can be secured with an SSL certificate.
Why does your website need an SSL?
First, SSL (which stands for Secure Socket Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser. The secure link ensures all data passed between the web server and web browser remains private using encryption. To not have an SSL for your website (or the website you are visiting) means your data is being sent from your computer to the web server (un-encrypted). This means anyone on the internet can theoretically take a look at what ever data you are browsing or submitting. How do you know if a website is using an SSL? An easy way to determine whether or not a website is using encryption is by taking a look at your web browser (below for example) and identifying the green lock or https vs http.
In todays Market, companies charge anywhere from $10-$65.00 to generate a domain validated SSL for your website. With Lets Encrypt and Forward Web, spending money on a SSL for your website is no longer needed. Ready to encrypt your websites data for Free? First you will need to move your website (just web hosting) to Forward Web. The Forward Web Shared web hosting cPanel plans start at only $3.49 per month or $34.95 per year, view plans here: https://secure.forwardweb.net/cart?gid=1
If you have your web hosting set-up with Forward Web, follow the next three three steps:
Step 1: (Login to your cPanel account and click on the “Let’s Encrypt SSL” icon”
Step 2: Click on “Issue” for the domain name you want to install an SSL for
Step 3: Select the Domain Name Aliases you want to install SSL’s for, along with whether or not you want to installl an SSL for email. Once you have selected all of your desired options, click on the “Issue” button and after a few seconds, you should see a SSL successfully installed message.
Keep in mind, once you have installed your SSL you will still want to route all of your traffic via https, if you are unsure about the best approach for routing your traffic or if you do not know how, feel free to contact us by opening a ticket and we will be more than happy to assist (free of charge).