Introduction:

Securing your website with an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is crucial for protecting sensitive data and building trust with your visitors. While paid SSL certificates are widely available, there are also free options that can provide the same level of security. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing an SSL certificate for free in cPanel, a popular web hosting control panel.

Step 1: Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

1. Log in to your cPanel account provided by your web host.
2. Locate the “Security” section and find the “SSL/TLS” icon. Click on it.
3. Under the “Certificate Signing Requests (CSR)” section, select “Generate, view, or delete SSL certificate signing requests.”
4. Fill in the required details, including the domain name, city, state, and organization information.
5. Click on the “Generate” button to generate your CSR.

Step 2: Request a Free SSL Certificate

1. Go to a trusted SSL provider that offers free SSL certificates, such as Let’s Encrypt or ZeroSSL.
2. Follow the instructions on the SSL provider’s website to request a free SSL certificate.
3. When prompted, paste the CSR generated in Step 1 into the appropriate field.
4. Complete any additional steps required by the SSL provider, such as domain verification.

Step 3: Obtain the SSL Certificate Files

1. Once the SSL certificate is issued by the SSL provider, you will need to download the certificate files.
2. Typically, you will receive a .zip file containing the SSL certificate, intermediate certificate, and private key.
3. Extract the files from the .zip archive to a convenient location on your computer.

Step 4: Install the SSL Certificate in cPanel

1. Return to your cPanel account.
2. Under the “Security” section, click on the “SSL/TLS” icon.
3. In the “Install and Manage SSL for your site (HTTPS)” section, select “Manage SSL sites.”
4. Locate the domain for which you want to install the SSL certificate and click on the “Manage” button next to it.
5. Scroll down to the “Install an SSL Website” section.
6. Copy and paste the contents of the SSL certificate file into the “Certificate” field.
7. Do the same for the intermediate certificate, copying and pasting the contents into the “Certificate Authority Bundle” field.
8. Finally, copy and paste the private key into the “Private Key” field.
9. Click on the “Install Certificate” button to install the SSL certificate.

Step 5: Verify the SSL Installation

1. After installing the SSL certificate, you should verify that it is functioning correctly.
2. Open a web browser and visit your website using the “https://” prefix.
3. If the SSL certificate is installed correctly, the browser should display a padlock icon indicating a secure connection.
4. You can also use online SSL checkers to confirm that the certificate is valid and properly configured.

Conclusion:

By following these step-by-step instructions, you can install an SSL certificate for free in cPanel and enhance the security of your website. Remember to renew your SSL certificate before it expires to ensure uninterrupted protection for your visitors. With an SSL certificate in place, you can establish trust, safeguard sensitive information, and provide a secure browsing experience for your users.