{"id":1559,"date":"2020-07-17T07:59:02","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T14:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ssls.com\/blog\/?p=1559"},"modified":"2023-09-27T06:28:12","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T13:28:12","slug":"why-ssl-alone-wont-secure-your-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssls.com\/blog\/why-ssl-alone-wont-secure-your-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Why SSL alone won\u2019t secure your website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A common myth is that an SSL certificate<\/a> will completely secure your website. This is not the case. While an SSL certificate will certainly help make your website a more secure place to visit, there is far more you need to do to protect your site beyond enabling HTTPS.
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It\u2019s easy to see why such a myth has gained traction. After all, it would be so much easier if a single digital certificate could protect your website and its users from all possible harm. While SSL certificates are certainly powerful and important, there\u2019s so much more you need to do in order to keep your site safe from vulnerabilities. SSL is just one small component of website security<\/a>.
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So, what else is it you need to be doing? This article will tell you just that! We\u2019ve compiled five key things you need to do to keep your website safe \u2014 beyond HTTPS and SSL.
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But first, let\u2019s talk a little about what SSL certificates actually do and where the confusion stems from.
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The purpose of SSL certificates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may have heard that SSL certificates encrypt data. This is true. However, this data encryption<\/a> is limited only to when it is in transit between a client and a server. In plain english, that would typically be a web browser and a website, respectively. Once data has completed its journey, been decrypted, and then stored on a website, the SSL certificate\u2019s job is done. There are other measures you must take to ensure data is safe once it\u2019s stored on your website.\u00a0
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Another common myth is that a website that has an SSL certificate should automatically be considered safe. This unfortunately isn\u2019t true either. In actual fact, the number of spam phishing websites with SSL certificates is actually on the rise. We cover this topic and how to protect yourself from malicious websites that use SSL in this article<\/a>.
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For now, let\u2019s take a closer look at how you can keep your own website safe and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five ways to boost your website security<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apart from installing an SSL certificate, here are five other things you should be doing to keep your website as secure as can be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ensure your site has effective anti-malware protection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A good hosting provider will take care of a lot of malware precautions behind the scenes and have built-in antivirus and antimalware protection. If you haven\u2019t yet chosen a hosting provider for your site, be sure to research what protections they offer to keep the websites they host secure. Check whether they use the latest server hardware, if their software firewalls are up to date, and how frequently they scan and test security systems. 
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You can also check your site for malware and viruses by using a free website security scanner, such as Sucuri<\/a> or VirusTotal<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Make strong passwords mandatory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Security experts have been talking about the dangers of weak passwords for years, but it\u2019s still not something a large chunk of Internet users take seriously. Case in point is the fact that the top five commonly-used passwords<\/a> across the globe in 2019 were:
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  1. 123456<\/li>
  2. 123456789<\/li>
  3. qwerty<\/li>
  4. password<\/li>
  5. 1234567<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    These passwords are basically the definition of weak. With their simple patterns and predictable letter and number combinations, even the most novice hacker could crack these easily. Passwords need to be strong and they need to be uncrackable to keep your data and your users\u2019 data safe.
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    Here are some best practices for creating strong passwords.
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