Ensuring your WordPress website is secure is crucial not only for protecting your visitors’ data but also for building trust with your audience. An SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate encrypts the data exchanged between your users and your website. Thus, preventing sensitive information from being intercepted. In today’s digital landscape, having an SSL certificate is no longer optional—it’s a necessity.
But how do you check if your SSL certificate is properly installed and functioning? In this article, we’ll walk through the different methods for checking your SSL certificate in WordPress and making sure your site remains secure.
Why SSL is Important for Your WordPress Website?
Here’s a brief on why SSL is so important for your website:
- Data Encryption: SSL ensures that data exchanged between your website and visitors is encrypted. This protects sensitive information like login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal data.
- SEO Benefits: Google prioritises websites that have SSL certificates in its search rankings. So, having a valid certificate can improve your website’s visibility in search results.
- Visitor Trust: The padlock icon next to your website’s URL signifies that your site is secure. Thus, providing assurance to visitors that their data is safe.
- Compliance: SSL is mandatory for compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR, which require secure data transmission.
Now that we understand the importance of SSL, let’s explore how to check your SSL certificate in WordPress.
1. Check SSL Certificate Manually in Your Browser
The quickest and easiest way to check if your SSL certificate is active is by simply visiting your website and inspecting the URL bar.
Steps to Check SSL in Your Browser
Open a browser and go to your website using HTTPS: https://yourdomain.com
.
Look for the padlock icon to the left of the URL in the address bar.
- If the padlock is present and green, your SSL certificate is installed correctly.
- If you see a warning sign or no padlock, it means your SSL may not be configured properly. Or there could be a problem like mixed content (when some site elements are loaded over HTTP instead of HTTPS).
Clicking on the padlock will allow you to see detailed information about your SSL certificate, including its expiration date and the certificate authority that issued it. While this is a simple and quick method, it’s worth running a more in-depth check with an external tool.
Know more: Fixing ERR SSL VERSION OR CIPHER MISMATCH Error
2. Use Online SSL Check Tools
To get a deeper analysis of your SSL certificate, you can use online tools that inspect its configuration, encryption strength, and other technical aspects. These tools provide a comprehensive report on your SSL’s health.
Recommended SSL Checking Tools:
SSL Labs’ SSL Test: One of the most thorough SSL testing tools available, it provides a detailed breakdown of your SSL certificate’s strength and configuration. Simply enter your domain name, and SSL Labs will analyse your site’s SSL setup, including encryption protocols, supported algorithms, and chain issues.
Why No Padlock: This tool is particularly useful if your SSL is installed but your browser is showing a mixed content warning. It helps identify any unsecured elements like images or scripts being loaded over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
These tools will provide you with actionable insights to fix any potential issues and optimise your SSL configuration.
Learn: Website Security Definition and Strategies for Protection
3. Use a WordPress Plugin to Check SSL Status
If you prefer to manage everything from your WordPress dashboard, there are several plugins designed to handle SSL certificate verification and management. These plugins not only check the status of your SSL certificate but also help you configure your site to work exclusively over HTTPS.
Popular SSL Plugins for WordPress:
Really Simple SSL: This is one of the most popular plugins for managing SSL on WordPress sites. It automatically detects your SSL certificate and configures your site to use HTTPS. It also provides alerts if mixed content issues arise, ensuring your site remains fully secure.
SSL Zen: SSL Zen simplifies the process of installing and managing SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt. It comes with a built-in SSL checker and automates the renewal process. So, you never have to worry about expired certificates.
Both plugins are highly user-friendly and make it easy to ensure your SSL certificate is active and your website is fully secure.
4. Check SSL in Your Hosting Provider’s Dashboard
Most web hosting providers include SSL management tools in their control panels. If your SSL certificate was installed by your hosting provider, you can check its status directly in your hosting dashboard.
Steps to Check SSL via Hosting Dashboard
- Log in to your hosting account (such as cPanel, Plesk, or a custom hosting dashboard).
- Navigate to the SSL/TLS section where your domain’s SSL certificates are managed.
- You will see information about your SSL certificate, including whether it’s active, the issuing authority, and its expiration date.
Many hosts, especially those offering free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt, will also notify you when your certificate is nearing expiration and allow for easy renewal.
5. Use WordPress Security Plugins for SSL Monitoring
If you are using a WordPress security plugin, many of them include SSL monitoring as part of their feature set. These plugins not only protect your site from malware but also alert you to any SSL certificate issues, like expirations or invalid certificates.
Recommended Security Plugins with SSL Monitoring:
Wordfence: A comprehensive WordPress security plugin that provides malware scanning, firewall protection, and SSL monitoring to ensure your site is safe and secure.
Sucuri Security: Sucuri offers SSL certificate monitoring along with website security hardening features, malware removal, and performance optimisation.
Using a security plugin with SSL monitoring can give you peace of mind, knowing that your site’s SSL status is constantly being checked.
Conclusion
Ensuring that your WordPress website has an active, valid SSL certificate is vital for protecting your users’ data. It can also improve your SEO rankings, and build trust with your visitors. Checking your SSL certificate regularly can prevent potential issues such as expired certificates, which could put your site and users at risk.
Whether you choose to manually inspect your SSL in the browser, use online tools, or install WordPress plugins to automate the process, keeping your SSL certificate in check is an essential part of running a secure and successful website.
By following the steps in this guide, you can ensure your SSL certificate is active, secure, and functioning as it should. Thus, allowing your users to browse your site with confidence.