When it comes to web security, SSL certificates are a topic that comes up often. You’ve probably wondered at some point whether you should purchase an SSL certificate. The answer to that is simple. Just ask yourself if you own a website. If the answer is no, then you probably don’t. If the answer is yes, then you definitely do.
Is it really so cut and dry, though? What if you have the most simple static website in the world that simply exists to display information? The answer is still yes. This blog post will explain why.
Read on to learn more.
What SSL does
Have you ever wondered about the difference between HTTP and HTTPS websites? That would be an SSL certificate. Hyper transfer protocol is the protocol that essentially loads websites across the web. SSL certificates make that connection secure (hence the little “S” at the end!). SSL certificates come in the form of a digital certificate that you add to your server. Once installed, it will encrypt the connection of anyone who visits your site, rendering any data communicated between your server and their browser unreadable to prying eyes. This is crucial for maintaining user privacy across the web.
A few years ago, SSL was mostly just recommended for websites that requested personal information of users. Now, it’s recommended that all websites get it, no matter their purpose. This is because it is widely agreed that SSL is paramount to creating a safer Internet.
HTTPS everywhere
There has been a push from big tech companies for HTTPS adoption across the web for a while now. From the (now discontinued) browser extension HTTPS Everywhere, which turns all HTTP websites into HTTPS connections, to Google granting SEO preference to websites with SSL from 2014, the widespread adoption of SSL certificates was inevitable. As of 2021, over 46 million websites around the world were SSL-secured by default. So, if you choose not to get an SSL certificate, you’ll be in the minority. Also, your website probably won’t work in major web browsers.
From 2018, Google’s Chrome browser started flagging websites without SSL as not secure. Soon after, browsers like Firefox, Edge, and Safari followed suit. This means that even if your site is secure as can be in every other sense, but if you don’t have an SSL, your site won’t be trusted, no matter how powerful your firewall or antivirus plugin.
Conclusion
Everyone with a website needs an SSL. No exceptions. If you want robust security across your whole website and care about your users’ privacy. It makes sense. Secure your site with SSL today.
