Back in 2014 when Google announced that https would be a ranking factor and websites having SSL certificate will be ranked higher, many website & web application owners moved to HTTPS.
So why https ?
Everyday we share lots of personal and sensitive information and if it is not encrypted well it can be easily hacked!
Here SSL comes, it secures the communication between users browser and web server.
So why not you?
Benefits of SSL certificate :
1. Security.
Yes it can secure the transfer of sensitive data.
2. You can open your website at https://yourdomain.com
3. Better Ranking in Google! Yes
So what’s the problem?
It’s not a DotCom Domain that GoDaddy will provide you at $1 -_-
The price of a SSL certificate can be high for many people!
So what’s the solution now?
How to get the free SSL certificate?
Let’s Encrypt , yes Let’s Encrypt.. It provides SSL certificate for free, yes you read it right !
You can get a free SSL certificate.
Let’s Encrypt is Sponsored by many company, Google, Facebook, Cisco, Mozilla!
You should also read this :
Does HTTPS Really Secure Your Website?
Why Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate?
Let’s Encrypt promised to offer a certificate authority (CA) which is:
Free – no charge for HTTPS certs.
Automatic – the installation, configuration as well as the renewal of the certificates do not require any administrator action.
Open – the automatic issuance, as well as renewal procedures, will be published as the open standard.
Transparent – the records of all certs issuance or revocation will be available publicly.
Secure – the team is committed to being a model of best practice in their own operations.
Cooperative – Let’s Encrypt is managed by a multi-stakeholder organization and exists to benefit the community, not any of the consortium members.
Now how to get free SSL ?
What are the steps?
Easy Way:
Using a host that supports built in free SSL by Let’s Encrypt!
Yes your webhost might support Let’s Encrypt free SSL and can be installed in few click.
Just check for any option in you cPanel for Let’s Encrypt.
If you don’t get it there then contact your hosting provider, they’ll add it, and if not continue reading.
Also here is the list of all hosting provider who supports Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate. This list is small, there are many more webhost who now support Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate.
You can also get CDN + Caching + SSL + Security For Your Website For Free
Or second method
With Shell Access:
You need root access for this.
To install Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate , you must first download and run the Let’s Encrypt Free SSL client application!
To install Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate follow these steps :
1. Login to your ‘yourdomain.com’ web server using SSH with root access.
2. To install the Git version control system, type the following command:
apt-get install git
3. Then download and install the latest version of Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate Client application, type the following commands:
git clone https://github.com/letsencrypt/letsencrypt
cd letsencrypt
./letsencrypt-auto
4. Once the installation starts, press Enter to accept the agreement.
5. Then press Enter to specify the server name manually in the text box (www.yourdomain.com ) and then press Enter.
6. Next, enter your email address, where you can receive messages from Let’s Encrypt and to recover lost keys, and then press Enter.
7. Review the ‘Terms of Service,’ and then press Enter to generate and install the Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate.
Once the installation completes, you’ll receive a ‘Congratulation’ message.
By default, Nginx or Apache web servers are not configured to how to use your new certificates.
So how to do that?
Just follow..
In Case on Ngnix
To use the installed SSL certificate, you need to edit Nginx configuration file. Type the following command to open Nginx configuration file:
$ sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/www.yourdomain.com
Within that file, add the following lines.
http{
server{
…
listen 443 ssl;
server_name www.yourdomain.com;
ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/www.yourdomain.com/fullchain.pem;
ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/.www.yourdomain.com/privkey.pem;
…
}
}
Save the file, and just restart your Nginx web server, using the following command:
sudo nginx -s reload
That’s it! Check complete doc here.
Feeling good !
Now let me tell you, the beta version of Let’s Encrypt issues certificates that expire after 90 days. So, to renew your Let’s Encrypt Free SSL Certificate, you need to run the letsencrypt-auto
script again after expiration.
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Free ssl is also provided by the WEB host as One click Encrypt
anyway your post is AWESOME . This post helps whose control panel doesn’t have a One click ssl 🙂 well done