How to Convert WordPress HTTP Website to HTTPS/SSL?

Recently, Google has declared that it has started using HTTPS as a ranking signal. And, there are some suggestions for your website also. First, it is essential to know that whether your website uses an HTTP or HTTPS protocol.

Currently, it is very trivial signal that affects only less than 1% of global search queries and has very least weight compare to other signals to give website owners time to switch to HTTPS. However, there are lots of people, who do not know the difference between SSL and HTTPS, so this blog can help them to get complete idea.

However, it also provides information on how to install and activate an SSL certificate. Moreover, WordPress website owners can also get information on how to move WordPress from HTTP communications protocol to HTTPS.

Well, there are lots of points that can differentiate HTTPS from SSL, but here you can three most important points that show the difference between HTTP and HTTPS

Network Layers – HTTP is known for working at the top layer of the TCP/IP model that is the Application Layer. However, SSL security protocol is known for operating as a lower sub-layer of the same TCP/IP model, but it encrypts an HTTP message prior to transmission and decrypts it upon entrance.

So, we can say that HTTPS is not a divided protocol, but it is known for using an ordinary HTTP in excess of encrypted SSL connection.

Security – As compare to HTTPS, HTTP is insecure and mainly focus on eavesdropping attacks that allow attacks to get important information of the website while HTPPS is specially designed to endure and secure against such attacks.

URL Scheme – HTTP URLs begin with and use port 80 by default while HTTPS URLs begin with and use port 443 by default.

SSL vs HTTPS

When it comes to HTTPS, it is a URL scheme that comes with identical syntax to the standard HTTP scheme apart from the scheme token. It also gives signal to browser to use an extra encryption layer of SSL to protect the traffic.

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer that is the standard security technology for starting an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. SSL is one such link that makes sure about all the data passed between the web server and browsers remaining private and integral to stop snooping and tampering. It is the standard, which shows how connections are encrypted through HTTPS.

How SSL Works?

Usually, an SSL certificate has your company, name, domain name, address, state and country. The certificate also shows the details about the certification authority and the expiration date of the certificate.

At the time of connecting browser to a secure website, SSL recovers the website’s SSL certificate and check that it has not expired. Certification authority the browser trusts has issued this and it can be used by the website for which it has been subjected.

In any case, if it is failed, check the browser as it will display a warning to the end-user allowing them to know that the website is not secured by SSL.

Use HTTPS, but Why?

As we all know that HTTPS is extremely important over unencrypted networks as anyone, who is on the same local network, can packet sniff and discover important information. While serving your visitors with website content securely through HTTPS, you will get the guarantee that no one can change how they are received by users. You will require SLL, if you are serious about doing business online.

Using HTTPS is the best for website owners as they can protect user data and protect against identity theft. If your website does not have a SSL certificate, customers will refuse to do business with you, so make sure to display your SSL site seal informs customers that they can do business with your website and use a site with confidence knowing they are protected.

How to Move WordPress Website From HTTP to HTTPS?

If you have decided to move your WordPress website from HTTP to HTTPS, first you should get an SSL certificate for the domain, install it on the server and modify the website permalinks from http to https.

Now, there are various WordPress websites on shared-hosting servers with cPanel provided as the control panel; therefore, a shared-hosting can be used as the base of this tutorial. The tutorial is applicable if the website is on a dedicated server, but the process on getting it done varies with servers.

If you are following this tutorial, you should make sure that your shared-hosting must have SSL/TLS activated. If it is not activated, you should contact the host and can request it for activating.

Make Sure to Get an SSL Certificate

As we all know that various kinds of SSL certificates are there, and mainly, they are categorized in three different groups, including Domain, Validation, Organization Validation and Extended Validation

Organization Validated

SSL certificates has authentication of the business and organization, so it offers a higher level of security and allows customers to know that they can trust their server with the personal information.

Domain-level Validation

it is one of the most basic types of SSL certificate and it is very affordable compare to other. Such types of certificates offer basic encryption and they are issued instantly and check to verify domain ownership.

Extended Validation

It is on the top of the line as the certifying authority performs a detail examination of the business before issuing the certificate. Such types of SSL offer the top degree of security and user trust.

Activate an SSL Certificate With Below Guide:

Firstly you need to obtain CSR code from your hosting company, if you are looking to activate an SSL certificate.

• First of all, you have to login to your cPanel account and have to navigate to the SSL/TLS manager.
• Click on the link below Certificate Signing Requests (CSR)
• You need to fill out the form for the domain that you are looking to develop the SSL on and click the Generate button.
• Now, the domain encoded CSR that should be generated and shown to you
• Head over to your SSL provide so that you can get started with SSL activation. You can enter the CSR code that is provided in the above CSR text area field. You can also select the web-server your host as running on and click on the Next button.
• You will be encouraged to enter your CSR information and to select an approval email.
• You can also provide personal contact details and can submit the order once you done with it. However, you will also get an approval email, so follow the instructions to validate your domain.

Steps to Install the SSL Certificate

• Click on the link beneath certificates (CRT) at cPanel SSL/TLS Manager.
• With .crt file extension, you can easily upload the certificate or past the certificate in the text area.
• You have to click on the link under Install and Manage SSL for your website (HTTPS) and activate the SSL for your website.
• After selecting the domain from the drop-down list, you can click the Autofill by domain and finally you can click the install certificate button.

So, these were the steps to install the SSL certificate, so make sure you follow these steps carefully and get lots of benefits.

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