Shine Audit: SSL shows 'No'

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that enables encrypted communication between a web server and a web browser. The SSL protocol ensures that data exchanged between the two is private and secure, preventing eavesdropping, data tampering, and other forms of online attacks.

Having SSL on a website is crucial for several reasons:

• Security: SSL ensures that sensitive information such as credit card numbers, login credentials, and other personal data is encrypted and kept secure.
• Trust: When a website has an SSL certificate, it shows that the website owner has taken steps to secure the website, which increases users' trust in the website.
• SEO: Google has confirmed that having SSL on a website is a positive ranking signal in its search algorithms, which means that SSL can improve a website's search engine rankings.
• Compliance: Some regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), require websites to use SSL to protect users' personal data.

In summary, having SSL on a website is crucial for protecting users' data, improving trust and credibility, complying with regulations, and improving search engine rankings.

To easily identify if a site has SSL, you can look for the "lock" icon in the browser's address bar. When SSL is enabled on a website, the address bar will display "https" instead of "http" and a lock icon will appear to the left of the URL.

Clicking on the lock icon will show you details about the website's SSL certificate, including the issuing authority and the encryption strength.

You can also look for other visual indicators that the website is secure, such as a green address bar or a trust seal from a reputable security provider.

In general, it's always a good practice to check for SSL before entering sensitive information such as login credentials or credit card numbers on any website.

When a site has no SSL, the communication between the website and the user's browser is not encrypted or secure. This means that any data exchanged between the website and the user, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal information, can be intercepted and read by unauthorized third parties.

Without SSL, it is also easier for attackers to carry out man-in-the-middle attacks, where they intercept and modify data exchanged between the website and the user.

In addition to the security risks, having no SSL can also impact the trust and credibility of the website. Users may be hesitant to provide sensitive information or make purchases on a site that does not have SSL, and search engines may rank the site lower in search results.

Fixing an SSL issue on a website will depend on the specific error or issue you are experiencing. Here are some general steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix common SSL issues:

• Check the SSL certificate: Make sure the SSL certificate is valid and issued by a trusted certificate authority. You can do this by clicking on the lock icon in the browser's address bar and checking the certificate details. If the certificate is expired or not trusted, you will need to renew or obtain a new certificate.
• Check the SSL configuration: Ensure that the SSL certificate is properly configured on the web server. This may involve updating the server configuration files or updating the SSL settings in the web hosting control panel.
• Check for mixed content: If your website includes both secure (HTTPS) and non-secure (HTTP) content, this can cause SSL issues. Check for mixed content errors and update any non-secure content to use HTTPS.
• Check the SSL chain: Ensure that the SSL certificate chain is complete and properly configured on the server. This can involve installing intermediate certificates and updating the SSL configuration files.
• Test the SSL connection: Use an SSL checker tool to test the SSL connection and identify any issues or errors. This can help you diagnose and troubleshoot SSL problems.

If you are unable to resolve the SSL issue on your own, consider contacting your web hosting provider or a web developer for assistance.