SSL (acronym for Secure Sockets Layer) is a type of digital security that enables encrypted communication between a website and a web browser, making it safe to transmit sensitive information, such as personal, payment, or login data. Having an SSL certificate makes it more difficult for criminals and hackers to trace your connection and steal your data.
TLS it means Transport Layer Security (transport layer security) and is the updated and improved version of SSL.
HTTPS is an extension safe of HTTP that have the websites that install and configure an SSL certificate.
You can tell if a website is using a certificate because you’ll see a small lock icon next to the URL in the address bar.
How does an SSL certificate work?
Now that you know what an SSL certificate is, let’s see how it works.
SSL/TLS certificates digitally link a cryptographic key to a company’s identifying information. This allows them to encrypt data transfers in such a way that they cannot be decrypted by third parties.
The TLS protocol works by having both a private and public key, as well as session keys for each unique secure session. When a visitor types an HTTPS-secured address into their web browser or navigates through a secure page, the browser and the web server connect.
During the initial connection, the public and private keys will be used to create a session key, which will then be used to encrypt and decrypt the data being transferred. This session key will remain valid for a limited time and will only be used for that particular session.
You can tell if a website is using a certificate by looking for a lock icon or green bar at the top of your browser. You should be able to click this icon to see information about who owns the certificate and to manage your SSL settings.
What is an SSL certificate and what is it for?
SSL is required when transferring sensitive information such as usernames and passwords or payment processing information.
The purpose of SSL/TLS is to ensure that only one person (the person or organization designated by the user) can access the data being transferred. This is particularly important when you think about how many devices and servers data is transferred between before it reaches its destination.
There are three main uses that make an SSL/TLS certificate essential for your website:
- When you need authentication: any server can pretend to be your server, hijacking the information that people transmit along the way. SSL/TLS allows you to prove the identity of your server so that people know that you really are who you say you are.
- To build trust: if you have an e-commerce site or ask users for data that is important to them, you need to create a sense of trust. Using a certificate is a visual way of showing visitors that they can trust you and is much more effective than anything else you can say about yourself.
- When you need to meet industry standards: In some industries, such as finance, it is required to maintain certain basic levels of security. There are also Payment Card Industry (PCI) guidelines that you must follow if you want to accept credit card information on your website. And one of those requirements is the use of an SSL/TLS certificate.
Remember that SSL can be used on almost any device, which also makes it a versatile security option in today’s age of multiple devices. The benefits of using SSL certificates are more than worth the time and money required to set them up, so you have nothing to lose.
Does the SSL certificate have an impact on SEO?
The short answer is: Yes.
to prioritize websites that used an SSL certificate, and have continued to emphasize certificates ever since. They have officially stated that sites with SSL stats will outperform those with no SSL stats if all other factors were equal, and while secure sites make up only 1% of results, 40% of searches return at least one site. with SSL security on the first page.
In practical terms, SSL makes little difference when it comes to SEO and simply installing a certificate on your site will have much less impact than regularly creating new content and building a strong inbound link profile. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore it.
It’s also important to remember that search engines use a variety of different metrics to determine the position of websites. One of those metrics is how often people return from your site to the results page, and having a certificate can make the difference between someone making a purchase on your site or leaving quickly. Many other metrics used to rank sites can be affected by choosing whether or not to use an SSL certificate.
The inclusion of an SSL certificate will impact the , but that shouldn’t be the reason to use one. Including a certificate will build trust among your visitors and you will have the SEO improvement as an added advantage.
How is SSL/TLS related to HTTPS?
When you install a certificate, you configure it to transmit data using HTTPS. The two technologies go hand in hand and one cannot be used without the other.
URLs are preceded with HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) either HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure). This is effectively what determines how the data you send and receive is transmitted, one of the big differences between http and https.
This means that another way to identify if a site uses a certificate is to look at the URL and see if it contains HTTP or HTTPS. This is because HTTPS connections require an SSL certificate to work.
Chrome indicates if a website uses an SSL certificate
Most major browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, will display prominently when users access a site over a secure connection. In Chrome, for example, you’ll see a green lock icon in the address bar along with a message that says ‘sure‘. Users can view more details about the SSL certificate by clicking on it.
Also, since the release of Chrome 68 in July 2018, websites without an SSL/TLS certificate .
Because browsers are doing their best to actively show whether sites are secure, it’s in your best interest as a website owner to accept the suggestion and make your site secure. That way, visitors can instantly see that your site is trustworthy as soon as they enter.
How to add an SSL certificate to your website?
Adding an SSL certificate to your website can be confusing and should only be done by a web professional. You will know if you meet the requirements or not.
The first step is to enable it before installing the ACME client. At this point, you can generate your SSL/TLS certificate and install it through your web hosting provider’s admin area.
If you’re looking for a provider, then look no further, because at we offer free unlimited lifetime SSL security with our plans.
Once your certificate is ready, you can force the use of HTTPS by pasting a code snippet into your .
How to add SSL/TLS to a WordPress website?
It’s a little easier. It offers plugins like and that take care of the technical part. However, you will still need to purchase an SSL certificate from a provider.
After you have purchased and installed your certificate, you will still need to change the settings in your WordPress dashboard (or use one of the plugins mentioned above).
The good news is that all you need to do is login to WordPress and go to General adjustments. Scroll down to fields WordPress Address (URL) Y Site address (URL) and change them from HTTP a HTTPS. Be sure to save your changes and review your site to make sure everything is working properly.
Summary
SSL is an acronym for Secure Sockets Layer (while TLS it means Transport Layer Security which translates Transport Layer Security) and tells visitors that they can safely transmit sensitive information to and from the server. This encrypts all data transfers in such a way that they cannot be decrypted by third parties, such as hackers and scammers.
You can tell if a website is using a certificate by looking for a lock icon or green bar at the top of your browser. Normally, you can click the icon in your browser to see who the certificate belongs to.
SSL/TLS has an impact on the securityon the search engine optimization and you can mark the difference between winning or losing a position against a competitor. That said, it should not be viewed as a super powerful SEO tool and as such SSL/TLS certificates should be used because it is best practice and not because you think they will help you rank higher in search engines.
And of course, if you need help getting started with your SSL certificate or want to take advantage of lifetime SSL security, just contact us. We will be happy to help!
Gustavo is passionate about creating websites. He focuses on the application of SEO strategies at for Spain and Latin America, as well as the creation of high-level content. When he is not applying new WordPress tricks you can find him playing the guitar, traveling or taking an online course.