Why You Need to Get an SSL Certificate in 2017

In 2012, a study found that more than 30,000 websites were being hacked each day. Now as many as double that number could be getting hacked.As a result, savvy web surfers are getting more selective about sites they visit and where they enter information. If you have a website and want to keep your visitors happy, you need to prove you are protecting them.There are several things you can do to ensure this.The first is to start with a well-built website. There are certain coding principles that can make your site more secure. If you aren't familiar with coding, you may want to seek professional website design help.Another way to keep your site safe is by keeping software up to date.Each of these practices is great for keeping your site safe. But web surfers won't see that you're doing them when they visit your page.That's where an SSL certificate comes in.When you get an SSL certificate added to your site, visitors will know right away that your site is secure.

What is an SSL certificate?

When you look at the URL of a site displayed in your search bar, you'll notice that it either starts with "HTTP" or "HTTPS."A URL that starts with "HTTP" indicates that the site does not have an SSL certificate. These sites are more vulnerable to hacks.But URLs that have "HTTPS," as well as a small picture of a lock to the left of the URL, followed by the word "Secure" mean that the site has an SSL certificate.When you get an SSL certificate installed on your site, you are encrypting the data on your website. This provides an essential layer of protection.

Why Should You Get an SSL Certificate?

SSL certificates were first used by banks or shopping sites to protect customer credit card information. Now all kinds of websites now use them for added security.Web surfers who are aware of this look for the SSL certificate in the URL. If they don't see one, they may be wary about entering any information on your site.If you're trying to get customers to buy a product or even to join an email list, this could be a roadblock.But if you do get an SSL certificate, web surfers who know what to look for will feel more comfortable entering information on your site.Hacks can be devastating to any business, but especially to any that deal with customer credit card information or other private data. Doing anything that you can to prevent them is essential.If this wasn't reason enough to add an SSL certificate to your site, you may not have a choice soon.Google recently announced that all sites that require visitors to enter passwords will need an SSL certificate. A warning label will be added to any sites that don't have one.

How Do You Get an SSL Certificate?

Installing an SSL certificate can be tough if you aren't familiar with coding or web design.One common issue you might encounter, is the “ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH” error. If you did, check this article to find out what it means and how to fix it.Luckily, you don't have to do it yourself.With the help of a professional website designer, you can get an SSL certificate downloaded on your site in not time. Get one installed, and start protecting yourself, your website, and your customers right away.If you need help installing an SSL certificate on your website, get in touch, and I'll be happy to help.