Introduction
What SSL certificate errors will I likely face with my WordPress website? How do I fix the SSL protocol error in WordPress?
If you have had such questions in your mind, this article is for you. Read on to find out how to solve SSL certificate errors on your WordPress website.
In 2017, Google made an announcement that would change the course of website security. That Google would begin flagging websites that did not have an SSL certificate. Web admins had to act quickly and fast to equip their websites with SSL certificates. No one was ready to face the penalties of not having an SSL certificate. And one of the penalties was getting relegated to the bottom pages of the SERPs.
Setting up an SSL certificate for a WordPress website is straightforward, but a few issues come with it. This article will explore some of the SSL issues in WordPress and provide guides on how to fix these issues. But before delving deep, let us first understand why you need an SSL certificate on your WordPress site.
Why SSL Is Required on WordPress
WordPress is a widely used content management system. Figures from W3Techs show that WordPress is used by over 63% of websites whose content management system is well known. With such popularity comes vulnerabilities. Hackers have made WordPress their prime target. According to a report by Sucuri, WordPress is the most attacked CMS, with 90% of hacking attempts targeting WordPress. See more details of the report in the image below:
The SSL certificate is one of the most effective security protocol to secure your WordPress website from the looming dangers of relentless cyber attackers. In other words, if you would love to boost the security of your WordPress website, you should start planning on purchasing an SSL certificate.
The SSL certificate initiates HTTPS encryption. All data and communications between your WordPress website and users’ browsers are encrypted, meaning they cannot be accessed or read by malicious actors.
Other than security, your WordPress site needs an SSL certificate for more reasons. For instance, users trust HTTPS websites more than HTTP websites. And this explains why most pages loading on web browsers are HTTPS. According to Google’s Transparency Report, 93.2% of browsing time in Google Chrome is spent on HTTPS web pages.
Moreover, purchasing an SSL certificate for a WordPress website will help your SEO strategies. Google uses the HTTP/HTTPS factor as one of the ranking factors. This is why HTTPS websites appear top of HTTP websites in search engine results pages. If you would love to boost your ranks while ensuring optimum website security, consider buying an SSL certificate for your WordPress website.
Common SSL Issues in WordPress & How To Fix Them
Now that you understand some pertinent details about what an SSL certificate is and why you need it for your WordPress site, it is time to learn more about some of the errors associated with the SSL certificate and how best to fix them errors. Here are some of the most common SSL errors in WordPress and how to fix SSL protocol errors in WordPress:
1. The NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID Error
The NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID error is one of the most common SSL certificate errors you are likely to encounter when using Google Chrome. The error also occurs in other browsers, although the messaging might vary slightly.
The error implies that the connection to the site is not secure and that something is wrong with your SSL certificate settings or configurations. Therefore the web browser cannot read it correctly. There are a few steps you should take to fix this problem.
First, you must ensure the SSL certificate is assigned to the correct domain or subdomain. Secondly, you must ensure the SSL certificate has not expired and that it is still valid. You can check the certificate’s validity by clicking on the icon on the left of the address bar. Doing so will display all details of the certificate. If the certificate says “not valid,” you will have to renew it as soon as possible.
You can also try reinstalling the SSL certificate to see if the error is resolved. However, consider contacting your web hosting provider if you need help with all these troubleshooting procedures. They might know the steps to diagnose this problem.
2. Mixed Content Error
The mixed content error is another common SSL-related error you will likely encounter when using your WordPress site. The error occurs when images, videos, scripts, and other content formats load on your WP site using the old HTTP protocol. In other words, some content on your WordPress site is secure, while other pages are not secured.
The troubleshooting solution you can use is to fix the warnings manually. To do so, you should go to settings and navigate General in your WP CMS.
Locate the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address and confirm whether the two addresses use HTTPS. You should effect the changes by converting HTTP URLs to HTTPS. You can use the Better Search Replace plugin to search for, find, and replace old URLs within your WP URLs. You should save the changes and refresh your site to clear the mixed content error.
3. Too Many Redirects
The too many redirects error is another common SSL certificate issue you will likely encounter when using an SSL certificate on WordPress. The error occurs when WordPress enforces the SSL/HTTPS for your site’s admin area.
To troubleshoot this error, you will have to edit your wp-config.php file. You can locate this file using your hosting account’s file manager or the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).
4. HTTP to HTTPS Redirects
WordPress does not automatically direct your HTTP site to HTTPS. So you will have to do it using any plug-in. A plugin such as the Really Simple SSL could help you with this role.
Additionally, you might have to configure the HTTP to HTTPS Manually by editing the .htaccess file. Again, you can use the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) in your hosting account. Once you locate and open the .htaccess file, you should add the following code:
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
</IfModule>
Relevant Blog
Conclusion
WP site needs an SSL certificate. The certificate will help to protect your website from data breaches and other website security threats. However, there are a few errors, such as the one covered in this post. This article has also explained some of the troubleshooting solutions you can take to protect your website from these errors.