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Are you looking to enhance the security of your website by installing a free SSL certificate on Bluehost manually? In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process step by step, making it easy for beginners to follow along. By the end of this article, you will have successfully secured your website with an SSL certificate, ensuring that your visitors’ data is encrypted and protected.
Before we dive into the installation process, let’s first understand what an SSL certificate is and why it is essential for your website. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and it is a standard security protocol that establishes an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This encryption ensures that all data transmitted between the server and the browser remains private and secure.
Having an SSL certificate installed on your website is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps build trust with your visitors by displaying a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar, indicating that the connection is secure. Additionally, SSL is a ranking factor for search engines like Google, meaning that websites with SSL certificates are more likely to rank higher in search results.
Now that we understand the importance of SSL certificates let’s move on to the installation process on Bluehost. Bluehost is a popular web hosting provider known for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support. Follow the steps below to install a free SSL certificate on Bluehost manually:
Step 1: Log in to your Bluehost account
The first step is to log in to your Bluehost account using your credentials. Once you are logged in, navigate to the cPanel dashboard, where you will find all the tools and settings needed to manage your website.
Step 2: Locate the SSL/TLS Manager
In the cPanel dashboard, search for the SSL/TLS Manager tool. This tool allows you to generate, view, upload, or delete SSL certificates for your website.
Step 3: Generate a free SSL certificate
Click on the “Generate, view, upload, or delete SSL certificates” option in the SSL/TLS Manager. Next, select the “Free & automatic certificate from Let’s Encrypt” option to generate a free SSL certificate for your domain.
Step 4: Choose the domain for the SSL certificate
In the next step, you will need to select the domain for which you want to install the SSL certificate. Choose the appropriate domain from the dropdown menu and click on the “Issue” button to generate the certificate.
Step 5: Install the SSL certificate
Once the certificate