SSL is what puts the padlock in the browser address bar and changes your site from http:// to https://. It encrypts the connection between your visitors and your website, so passwords, form entries, and payment details cannot be read in transit.
Why HTTPS matters
- It shows a padlock that signals your site is safe to use.
- Browsers warn visitors away from pages served over plain HTTP.
- Search engines treat HTTPS as a ranking signal, so it helps SEO.
Free SSL with Hostbox
Hostbox provides free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt. In most cases a certificate is issued automatically once your domain points to your hosting, so there is nothing to buy and nothing to install by hand.
Certificates renew automatically before they expire, so once SSL is active you do not need to think about it again.
Turn on HTTPS for your site
Make sure your domain points to your Hostbox hosting so the certificate can be issued.
Check your dashboard to confirm SSL is active for your domain.
Enable the option to redirect all traffic to HTTPS so visitors always get the secure version.
Fix mixed-content warnings
After switching to HTTPS you may see a warning that a page is not fully secure. This usually means an image, script, or stylesheet is still loading over http://. Update those links to https:// (or to relative paths) so every resource on the page loads securely.
A single http:// resource can break the padlock for the whole page, so check images and embedded content after going live.
Need help getting SSL active? Reach our team at /support, and find more guides at /knowledgebase.