Hosting
SSL Certificates Explained Simply
DomainHostly Team · 1 November 2026
When a website address starts with https, the connection between the visitor and the site is encrypted. This is the work of an SSL certificate, also called TLS.
Without it, browsers show visitors a Not Secure warning. That alone can put people off, especially on a page with a form.
SSL protects data in transit. It does not prove that a business is honest or that the site is free from malware.
Many hosting providers include a free certificate. Check whether yours renews automatically, because an expired certificate shows a frightening warning.
After installing it, open both the www and non-www addresses, and make sure the normal http address redirects to https.