Definition of SSL
For an excellent resource on SSL basics, please go to http://www.verisign.com/site/ssl.html.
Information sent from one computer to another computer can pass through numerous other computers before it reaches the destination. These intermediary computers can monitor and replace the information that we are sending. So to safeguard privacy, we encrypt information before we send it over the Internet. So the encrypted data is meaningless for these intermediary persons and also if the data is changed , the intended recipient will know it was altered. SSL is a protocol used for this encryption purpose.
The Certification Authorities (CA) issues certificates. A certificate is a file that contains certain identifying information. The file is signed with the CA's private key to guarantee its authenticity. Both clients and servers can have certificates. When a server sends its certificate to a client, the process is called server authentication. When a client sends a certificate to a server, the process is called client authentication. Both the browser and the server use an SSL security handshake (exchange of certificates) to initiate a secure TCP/IP connection. The client and server agree on the level of security they will use and how to fulfill authentication requirements for their connection. After the handshake, the only role of SSL is to encrypt and decrypt the WWW service byte stream. The WWW service and the Web browser encrypt all the information in both request and response, including:
The URL the client is requesting Any submitted form contents, such as credit card numbers Any WWW service user names and passwords. All data the server sends back to the client
To learn more about SSL please check this site
Vanity SSL
To enable Vanity SSL on your Free Linux account you can complete the following
- Log into your Control Panel using your domain name and password
- Click on Site Management
- Click on Linux Account
- Click on Vanity SSL
- Click on "Click here to sign up for a new Vanity SSL site"
- Follow the instructions listed
Your secure link will be similar to https://yoursite.secure.myhosting.net which is bound to your site. It is included for free with all Web Hosting plans.
Your own Comodo SSL Certificate
You can purchase your own Comodo Instant SSL certificate through us. We'll take care of all the configuration and setup for you. All you need to do is pay the yearly certification fee, starting at only $74.95 per year with a $25.00 setup fee.
Your secure site will be like https://www.domainname.com
You can sign up by completing the following.
- Log into your Control Panel using your domain name and password
- Click on Upgrades and Options
- Click on Comodo InstantSSL
- Select the key you would like and the term
Your Own SSL Certificate
To apply for your own SSL key, please follow the instructions provided below:
Fill out the form below (as an example we left the fields filled in) and email it to support asking to have your CSR created.
|
Password: |
(your password) |
|
Common-name: |
www.domain_name.com |
|
Organization Unit: |
Web Technologies |
|
Organization: |
Xyz Inc. |
|
Locality: |
Toronto |
|
State: |
ON |
|
Country: |
CA |
|
Contact Name: |
|
|
Phone: |
+1 416 555 8888 |
|
E-mail Address: |
YourEmailAddress |
- We'll create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) for you.
- You'll submit this CSR and other documents required by the certificate authority to them, either Thawte (www.thawte.com ) or Verisign (www.verisign.com) (Where ever you have purchased your SSL Key).
- They'll generate your certificate.
- You'll send the certificate to us at support@myhosting.com.
- We'll install it on your server.
- Then bring all the parts together and create your shop.
It costs $30.00 to setup and $6.00 monthly. Also, you'll pay for your certificate directly with the certificate authority (Verisign or Thawte or any other certificate authority).
Uploading Files To Your Secure Site
To simplify matters, when SSL has been enabled on your account we bind your existing website home directory to the Vanity Certificate created for your site. Therefore, your secure and unsecure directories are the same. When you need to switch to a secure page, all you need to do is set the hyperlinks properly.
For example, you have a form named form.html and you want it to be secured, all you need to do is link it as:
<A HREF="https://yoursite.secure.myhosting.net/form.html">Form</A>