Secure with SSL Certificates
Creating an online presence can be a bit complicated sometimes. Securing it, however, doesn't have to be. HostGator makes it easy to secure your site by providing all hosting customers with a free SSL certificate. In this article, we'll explain what an SSL certificate is, how SSL works, and the options you have when selecting one.
How does SSL work?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a security protocol used to secure the session between a browser and a server. Today, the protocol actually implemented is Transport Layer Security (TLS), but for simplicity, the encryption is still commonly referred to as SSL.
No matter which term you use — SSL or TLS — we’re talking about the cryptographic protocol that encrypts information entered on a website. That way, if someone tries to eavesdrop, they cannot read the data exchanged between your website and the server receiving your visitor's information.
For more information about how SSL works, please visit the following article:
How to tell if a website is secure
When a website does not use an SSL certificate, the domain displays HTTP before the name (e.g., http://example.com), and the traffic is sent using the HTTP protocol. The issue with unsecured websites is that most browsers now warn visitors that a site is not secure. Any information submitted on an unsecured site is transmitted in plain text — making it easy for attackers to intercept sensitive data, such as login credentials.
In contrast, when your website utilizes an SSL certificate, your data is encrypted before being transmitted, and the domain displays HTTPS. With your website’s traffic secured, when visitors input information such as passwords or credit card numbers, no one can intercept it.
Visitors will also see a padlock icon next to your domain name, indicating that your site — and the data shared on it — is protected from unauthorized access.
Visit the following article to learn how and where to check SSL information on websites:
SSL and email security
While HostGator provides access to webmail, many people use third‑party email clients on their phones or computers. When manually adding your email to an app or device, you’ll notice it asks for connection settings for the server where your email is hosted.
Aside from your login credentials and the IMAP vs. POP3 options, email setup screens also offer the ability to use SSL/TLS encryption. Enabling SSL/TLS for email works the same way it does for website connections: it encrypts the data sent between your email client and the mail server.
Without SSL/TLS enabled, your email data is transmitted in plain text — putting it at risk of interception.
SSL Certificates for everyone
At HostGator, we understand that website security and SEO performance are important to you, which is why we provide all hosting customers with a free SSL certificate. While the free SSL offers excellent protection, some businesses may require additional or advanced SSL certificates. For that reason, we offer several SSL options.
Not sure what you need? We’ve consolidated our SSL articles for you: