In this article, I will show you how you can add a free SSL certificate to your Nginx server with Certbot.
Before we start, let's understand what SSL is.
What is SSL?
SSL(Secure Socket Layer) is a protocol for establishing authenticated and encrypted links/connections between connected computers.
What is SSL certificate and why do we need it?
An SSL certificate (also known as a TLS or SSL/TLS certificate) is a digital document that binds the identity of a website to a cryptographic key pair consisting of a public key and a private key.
The public key, included in the certificate, allows a web browser to initiate an encrypted communication session with a web server via the TLS and HTTPS protocols. The private key is kept secure on the server and is used to digitally sign web pages and other documents (such as images and JavaScript files)
(source: ssl.com )
Reasons your web page/application should have an SSL certificate:
It protects you and your web page/app users against hackers.
Since the connection is secured in a way that the information from your app's visitors' devices and your app is encrypted, it's hard for a hacker to know the information being shared.
When you buy something online, you share your payment information with the site you are using (credit cards, PayPal,…).
Ex: In this case, if the site is not using SSL, it's easier for a hacker to grab the information being shared.
But in the other case where you are using a secure connection (SSL), even though the hacker can be able to intercept the connection, he can't be able to know the information being shared since it's encrypted.
Increases trustworthy in your users
Users trust your page/app more since they are confident that the information they share with or
through it is secure.
Improves your app's SEO
It's no secret that having an SSL certificate ranks your site higher in search engines like Google.
Some browsers like chrome block unsecure apps by default from being accessed (to protect users' online privacy)and that can lead to poor performance for your app and poor SEO.
You can learn more about SSL by using these resources.
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