How to Get and Enable Your Free SSL Certificate
Ahmed Osama
Last Update 4 年前
This article regarding BearHost's Free SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates will cover the following topics:
Why a Website Needs an SSL
If your website requires someone to enter their personal information, credit card, or login credentials, you will want to secure your website.
With the SSL enabled, it will encrypt the data sent across the internet. This encryption prevents the man-in-the-middle attacks used by hackers to steal your customers' information while in transit.
Adding SSL to your website lets your visitors know that you are serious about your customer and site's security.
Related Articles:
What Is an SSL Certificate?
Secure with SSL
How to Get a Free SSL Certificate
Taking advantage of BearHost's Free SSL is easy. Once a domain is added to your cPanel, and the A record is pointed to your hosting account, the SSL certificate is added to the domain. All you have to do is follow the steps below to enable the certificate and then enforce it.
The Free SSL certificate will automatically be available to every domain and subdomain for new and existing cPanel platform customers.
Enable is the process of activating the SSL certificate.
Enforcing is the process of forcing the website traffic from HTTP to HTTPS using 301 redirects.
The Free SSL lasts for 90 days from issuance and renews automatically at no cost to you, so your site hosted with BearHost should never be without an SSL.
New customers will be able to add or opt-out of the Free SSL upon account sign-up.
Note: The Free SSL will not come with any warranty or site logo. For these features, the Free SSL must be upgraded to a Positive or EV SSL Certificate. For more information regarding the different types of SSL certificates, please see the article below:
How do I Purchase an SSL, and What Type is it?
Step-by-Step Guide for Enabling and Forcing your Free SSL Certificate
What Do Domains and Subdomains Look Like?
Domain: example.com
Subdomain: sales.example.com
Related Articles:
What Is a Subdomain? (Blog)
Subdomain vs Domain (Blog)
Differences between Aliases, Addon Domains, and Subdomains
If you have a website hosted and pointed to a BearHost package. Your SSL should be ready to use and proceed to the next step to direct your customers from HTTP to HTTPS.
If another provider manages your domain name and its subdomain, you will need to ensure that your domain's A record is pointed to your hosting package via your domain provider's dashboard. That domain needs to be associated with your BearHost package to enable the Free SSL certificate. Otherwise, you will be unable to use the Free SSL.
Note: Your A record is the same as the server IP address you can find in the General Information section of cPanel.
SSL Troubleshooting & Common Questions
When viewing HTTPS on my domain, it says I don't have a certificate on my site.
You must have an active shared cPanel package with BearHosts.
The domain must be pointed to your BearHosts package via an A record.
Clear your browser cache and try viewing the site on another device after you enable the SSL certificate. Sometimes the old version of the website will be cached in your browser.
What hosting plan can get the Free SSL?
All BearHost Hosting packages are eligible for Free SSLs on all domains hosted within the hosting account and pointed by A record.
Advanced hosting users with a VPS or Dedicated may enable it for their servers by following the guide in the link below.
Manage AutoSSL in WHM
What do I have to do once I get the Free SSL?
Once the Free SSL is installed, you likely will still need to direct your visitors from HTTP to HTTPS to ensure they are using the most secure path to access your site. We have a guide on different builders above in the Step-by-Step Guide for Enabling your Free SSL Certificate.
Do I need to do anything if I use a SiteLock CDN through BearHost?
The TrueShield CDN that comes with all of our SiteLock plans now provides SSL support and can be enabled in three easy steps.