Using SSL Security on WebHostingHub Hosting
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What do I need to know about SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. Technically, it is a technology that is used to establish an encrypted link between the client and a server; perhaps between a browser and a web server or between a mail client and a mail server. This technology allows the secure transmission of sensitive information such as credit card numbers, login credentials and social security numbers. You might want to ask why these information need to be encrypted. Under normal circumstances, these data are transmitted between the client and the server in plain text form, leaving the date vulnerable to technical eavesdropping. The sensitive information could be intercepted by unauthorized persons and then used for their own purpose. To protect your data from possible thief, it is necessary to encrypt your data.
Specifically, it is a security protocol which determines variables of the encryption for both the data being transmitted and the link. It uses a cryptographic system that employs two different keys to encrypt data; one is the public key which is known to everyone and the other a secret key or a private key that is known only to the recipient of the message.
How does an SSL Certificate work?
An SSL Certificate works with a pair of keys: a private key and a public key, which work together in order to establish a secure, encrypted connection. The same certificate also contains the identity of the website owner, aptly called the subject. Although hosting providers almost always support SSL, SSL Certificates does not come automatically with your hosting package. In order to have one, you need to create a Certificate Signing Request or CSR on your hosting provider web server. This request allows the host to create a private key and a data file that you need to send to the Certificate Authority or CA (also called the CSR Certificate user). The CA will then use the CSR data file for the creation of the public key that should match your private key.
After this is complete, you should receive the SSL Certificate which you need to install on your server. Also, in order to establish the credibility of your SSL Certificate, you need to install a pair of intermediate certificates that is tied to your CA’s root certificate.
What is the basic difference between a Dedicated and a Shared SSL Certificate?
Users can choose between the option of using a Dedicated SSL Certificate and a Shared SSL Certificate. The following are the basic differences between the two:
- Dedicated SSL Certificate
- SSL certificate is dedicated for one website or one specific domain only;
- URL is determined by the website owner;
- Incurs additional cost for the purchase of Secure Certificate and IP Address;
- Looks more professional to web visitors; and
- Helps in hiding the identity of the web hosting provider.
- Shared SSL Certificates
- Installed on the web hosting server;
- Can be used by all accounts belonging to that server;
- You have no control over the domain name;
- It is free;
How do I setup my shared SSL Certificate?
One of the ways easiest ways of obtaining and using an SSL Certificate is through the use of a Shared SSL Certificate. This method is recommended and is supported by WebHostingHub. A shared SSL Certificate is an SSL Certificate that is installed on the web hosting server. Being installed on the web hosting server means that all accounts on that server can use the SSL anytime. However, shared SSL Certificates has some limitations. Its major limitation is that the user needs to use the web server’s URL instead of his own website’s URL which often leads to distrust of the URL as it would not match with user’s website which is being secured. This limitation though is often overshadowed by the fact that shared SSL Certificates comes free and is already installed on the server.
To configure your software to user shared SSL Certificate, you need to do the following:
- You need to login to the OpenCart dashboard, if you are using OpenCart;
- Go the System then Settings tab;
- Look for the Server tab and select it by clicking;
- You need to check the radio button in order to use the SSL;
- Then, login to your cPanel and go to the File Manager;•
- You need to navigate to your OpenCart installation and go to the “Admin” folder;
- At the Admin folder, open the configuration file;
- You need to edit the HTTPS settings in the file in order to reflect your SSL URL path. Basically, you need to add a letter “s” after the http to make it https://.
- After editing, you need to save the changes by clicking Save when prompted.
- Then, to make sure that the configuration is correct, you should test your website after saving the changes.
