What is SSL?

SSL is an acronym that stands for “Secure Sockets Layers.” SSL is one of the most important developments in the history of the internet because it allows websites to safely and securely transmit information. SSL is a set of protocols or rules that allow encrypted information to be transmitted.

 

If you ever visit a website and see a little “lock” icon at the top of your browser just to the left of the URL address, this means that the website is secure. And the way that information between you and the website is exchanged is via the SSL encryption protocols.

 

The way that websites and users identify themselves is by exchanging certificates. If you click on the “lock” icon at the top of your browser, you’ll see this certificate information. Without these certificates, there would be no way to know who is the real owner of a website, making it easy for hackers to set up fake websites that look like genuine ones.

 

Websites like banks and e-commerce shops that handle payment information rely on verified certificates in order to establish their identity and then exchange this information via SSL protocols. However, it’s not just websites that use the SSL protocols; many other internet services use it too, including for email and file transfers.

 

WordPress sites can also use SSL and verified certificates, if desirable. For a simple blog, you may not need to use SSL encryption protocols, for instance, as no private data is being exchanged.

 

But if you do want to set up an SSL-secure WordPress site for an e-commerce or payment gateway website, the way you do this is through your web host provider. There are also plugins available which can assist you as well.

 

Further Reading

 

How to get a Free SSL Certificate

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Jamie Spencer

My name is Jamie Spencer and I have spent the past 10 years building money making blogs. After growing tired of the 9-5, commuting and never seeing my family I decided that I wanted to make some changes and launched my first blog. Since then I have launched lots of successful niche blogs and after selling my survivalist blog I decided to teach other people how to do the same.