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What is a SSL Certificate?

SSL Certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details. When installed on a web server, it activates the padlock and the https protocol (over port 443) and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser.

Once installed, it is possible to connect to the website over https://www.mydomain.com, as this tells the server to establish a secure connection with the browser. Once a secure connection is established, all web traffic between the web server and the web browser will be secure.

  • How to install using cPanel SSL/TLS Manager.

1. Login to your cPanel account

2. Go to Security section and click the SSL/TLS Manager button.

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Now you have to generate a new Private Key

Click on Generate, view, upload or delete your private key.

ssl1

Typically a Key Size of 2,048 bits is fine, but if you need another one you can select it from the drop-down.

Fill in a Description for the key if you’d like, then click Generate

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Your Private Key will be generated

sslkey

You will need your Private Key to install your SSL Certificate.

  • Certificate signing request (CSR)

Before getting an SSL certificate for your website, you need to generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). This request will include your domain name and company, as well as information specific to the server you’re hosting on.

Fill our the fields required and press Generate

csrreq

You will now have to select the newly generated CSR and supply it to the Certificate Autority that you’re buying the certificate from.

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  • How to install a Self-signed SSL Certificate.

When using a self-signed certificate, there is no chain of trust. The certificate has signed itself. The web browser will then issue a warning, telling you that the web site certificate cannot be verified. Therefore, you should not use self-signed certificates for professional use, as your visitors will not trust your web site to be safe.

If you just need your website data encrypted and are not worried about web-browser warnings you can generate a self-signed SSL certificate for free.

Here is how you do it:

Click on Generate, view, upload or delete SSL Certificates.

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You will have to fill in the blank fields with your information details.

You will receive a self-signed certificate like in the image below:

selfcert

When you access a self-signed SSL website from your web-browser, you will get an self-signed SSL Certificate warning. You can simply safely click on Proceed anyway to still get to the website.

  • How to activate a SSL Cerificate.

It doesn’t matter if the SSL Certificate is bought or self-signed, the installation is done the same.

Click on Manage SSL sites

installssl

You have generated the Private Key, generated a CSR, now it’s time to activate the SSL Certificate for your website.

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Click on Install Certificate.

You will then receive the confirmation message:

cpanel-ssl-install-success

This is how you generate, install and manage your SSL Certificates.

 

After installing your SSL Certificate you must redirect from HTTP to HTTPS and here is the tutorial on how to do it:

https://www.thcservers.com/blog/how-to-redirect-from-http-to-https-using-htaccess-file/

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