How to Install an SSL Certificate in HostGator

 

Not sure what the process is in HostGator to add an SSL certificate? Here’s your 7-step process

An SSL certificate allows encrypted data to be sent between two parties, most commonly a user's browser and the website's server. It hides the "Not Safe" alert message and replaces the domain name in the address bar with a padlock symbol. Understanding what an SSL certificate does is one thing; understanding how to install an SSL certificate in HostGator so you can use one is quite another.

That's why we've put together this step-by-step guide that explains how to install an SSL certificate in HostGator.

HostGator SSL Install: How to Install an SSL Certificate in HostGator in 7 Steps

Are you ready to see how easy it is to set up an SSL certificate on HostGator? It's easy to do, as you'll see if you follow these seven simple steps:

Step 1: Choose an SSL Certificate

For your HostGator website, you have three options:

1. An SSL certificate, such as a Comodo SSL certificate, can be purchased for as little as $5.45 per year from a third-party website like CheapSSLsecurity.com. Your certificate can be renewed for as little as $5.45 a year.)
2. Comodo SSL certificates can be purchased directly from HostGator for $19.99 for the first year and $39.99 per year after that.
3. You have the option of using a free SSL certificate. The free SSL certificate, on the other hand, does not come with a warranty or a site seal.

Commercial SSL certificates from certificate authorities come with guarantees, site seals, and the reliability of reputable top brands like Comodo CA, so options one and two are preferable.

Step 2: Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

When learning how to install an SSL certificate in HostGator, the next step is to submit a certificate signing request. The SSL/TLS certificate issuance process requires the creation of this encoded text file, which contains information about the entity that requested the certificate.

You will be asked to provide the following information during the CSR. You must fill out this form with the same address and organization information that you gave when purchasing the domain name and saved it in your WHOIS records.

Step 3: Get Public and Private Keys

You'll receive a public key (CSR code) and a private key (RSA key) via email after submitting the CSR form to HostGator. Keep both of these codes safe because you'll need them in the future!

You don't need to be concerned about the protection of your domain's public key because everyone can access it through the internet. Your private key, on the other hand, should only be accessible by you! Your entire SSL certificate will be rendered worthless if your private key is compromised. As a result, please store it in a password-protected folder.

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Step 4: Provide the CSR Code to the Certificate Authority

The CSR code must be given to the SSL certificate provider, which may be HostGator, a certificate authority (such as Comodo CA), or a third-party vendor like us.

Keep in mind that you can never give your private key to a certificate authority or vendor.

Step 5: Complete the Validation Process

On email addresses like admin@yourdomain.com or webmaster@yourdomain.com, you'll receive an email from the certificate authority with the verification connection for the next step in the HostGator SSL installation method (or something similar).

You can use the file verification process if you don't have an email address for your domain name's extension. In this scenario, your CA will give you some files that you will need to upload to a specific server folder.

Additional verification steps are needed if you purchased organization validated (OV) or extended validated (EV) SSL certificates.

Step 6: Save the SSL Certificate

The certificate authority will send you an email with an SSL certificate for your domain and other necessary files after you complete the validation process.

In the email, you should expect to receive two key files:

• crt: Your SSL certificate is stored in this file.
• CA bundle: This file includes the root and intermediate root certificates for the CA.

Open any of these files with Notepad by right-clicking on them (or any other text editor). You'll notice a slew of codes. Make a backup of these files because you'll need them in the next phase.

Step 7: Request for HostGator to Install the SSL Certificate

Customers of HostGator are not permitted to install the SSL certificate on their own. To get HostGator to install the SSL certificate on your server, you must fill out an installation request form if you have a Shared Web Hosting, Website Builder, WordPress Hosting, or reseller hosting plan.

Of course, they don't always have this service for free. Depending on your requirements, there are a few different levels of installation fees to consider:

• A single-domain SSL certificate costs $10.
• $25 for up to five domains with multidomain and wildcard SSL certificates (plus $5 for each additional domain).
• Users with virtual private servers (VPS) or dedicated servers may use the service for free.

Pay special attention to these three fields when filling out the certificate installation request form:

• Copy and paste the contents of the crt file you saved in the text editor in the previous phase into this area. Have the lines "—–BEGIN CERTIFICATE—–" and "—–END CERTIFICATE—–."
• Copy and paste the content of the SSL CA Certificate package.
• Copy and paste the codes for the RSA key (private key) that you got from HostGator in phase three.

Now take a seat and unwind. When the HostGator team has successfully installed the SSL certificate on your website, you will be informed. The padlock icon will appear in front of your domain name in the browser's web address bar at that stage.

See what I mean? That's what there is to it when it comes to installing an SSL certificate on HostGator.