SSL certificates

A small file that proves a site is yours and lets the browser encrypt everything it sends to it. It is what turns http into https and shows the padlock. Without one, browsers mark the site "Not secure".

Usually not. Every site hosted with us has a free certificate that is installed when the site goes live and renews itself. Buy one when you want your company name verified and shown on the certificate, when you need one certificate for many subdomains, or for a site hosted somewhere else.

The free certificate is there when the site goes live. A standard or wildcard certificate is issued within minutes once the domain check passes. A business-validated certificate takes a few days, because the authority checks the company records.

Domain validation checks that you control the domain, nothing more. Business validation also checks that your company exists and is who it says, and puts the company name on the certificate for visitors to see. Both encrypt exactly the same way.

Almost always mixed content: a picture, script or stylesheet on the page still loads over http. The browser then refuses the padlock for the whole page. Our support can find the http addresses for you and change them.

We send you the certificate files and a guide for your host, and our support walks you through it. If you would rather we did it, move the site to us: the transfer is free.