An SSL security certificate allows your website to communicate securely with your visitors.
What does that mean?
When you visit a website, a lot of information is exchanged between your computer and the page you are viewing. That information can travel in two different ways:
- Plain text. Anyone who intercepts the traffic can read it. If a website uses plain HTTP instead of HTTPS, the communication is not protected properly.
- Encrypted traffic. Encryption hides the content of the communication from anyone who does not have permission to see it. When a website uses https://, the browser can read the protected data while third parties cannot.
The encryption process is automatic, fast, and does not require any action from the visitor.
Adding a security certificate to your website is highly recommended, especially if users send you personal or banking information. It shows that you take their privacy seriously and helps them trust your site enough to complete transactions.