Using an SSL certificate to enable HTTPS on your website is crucial for security and SEO purposes. cPanel makes it easy to manage SSL certificates on your hosting account. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to check your SSL certificate details in cPanel:
SSL – An Overview
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts the connection between a web server and browser to ensure data passed between them remains private. Enabling HTTPS with an SSL certificate provides the following benefits:
- Encrypts sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, etc. during transmission
- Prevents hackers from spying on or modifying data exchanged between a site and visitors
- Builds trust and credibility for your website
- Gives SEO ranking boost as Google favors HTTPS websites
When you install an SSL certificate in cPanel, it’s important to verify that it is valid and contains the correct domain name(s). This guide will show you how to check your SSL certificate details in cPanel.
Step-by-Step Guide to Check SSL Certificate in cPanel
Prerequisites
Before you can check SSL certificate details, you need:
- cPanel hosting account
- An SSL certificate installed and activated in cPanel
The SSL certificate can be a free Let’s Encrypt certificate or a paid certificate from providers like Comodo, Digicert, etc.
Step 1 – Log in to cPanel
Go to your cPanel login page – usually a URL such as https://yourdomain.com:2083 or https://cpanel.yourhostingprovider.com (These links are just used for example, you will have to enter the real URLs of your page)
Enter your cPanel username and password to log in
This will take you to your cPanel dashboard.
Step 2 – Open SSL/TLS Manager
Scroll down and look for the “Security” section in cPanel – you should see an icon titled “SSL/TLS Manager”. Click on it to open the SSL/TLS Manager.
Alternatively, you can open it by entering “SSL” in the cPanel search bar and selecting “Manage SSL Sites”.
Step 3 – View SSL Certificate Details
In the SSL/TLS Manager, you will see a list of all SSL certificates installed on your cPanel hosting account.
Find the domain name for which you want to check certificate details. Then click on the “View Certificate” icon.
This will open a popup window with your SSL certificate details.
Step 4 – Verify the Certificate Details
Carefully examine the certificate details visible in the popup to verify:
- Valid From and Valid To dates – The certificate should be currently valid and not expired.
- Domain name – Ensure the domain name matches your site. It should show your root domain (example.com) and any other additional domains or subdomains if added.
- Issued To – This shows the organization/entity to whom the SSL certificate is issued. For domain-validated certificates, this will be your domain name.
- Issued By – The trusted Certificate Authority (CA) who has signed and issued the SSL certificate. Examples include Let’s Encrypt, Comodo, DigiCert, etc.
- Key Signatures – This cryptographic information validates the SSL certificate public key.
If any detail looks incorrect, you may want to revoke the certificate and install a new valid one.
Step 5 – View SSL Protocols and Cipher Suites (Optional)
By clicking on “More Information” at the bottom, you can also check technical details like:
- SSL protocols – e.g. TLS 1.2, and TLS 1.3 which determine encryption standards
- Cipher suites – Encryption algorithms supported by the certificate
Having strong cipher suites using the latest TLS versions can further enhance security.
Troubleshooting Common SSL Certificate Issues
When checking your SSL certificate in cPanel, some common issues you may encounter are:
- Expired certificate – Install a renewed certificate immediately as expired certs will break HTTPS.
- Domain mismatch – The domain name should match your site URL. If not, install a new cert with the proper domain.
- Untrusted CA – For full browser trust, the SSL provider should be a known certificate authority like Let’s Encrypt or Comodo.
- Weak signature hash – Older MD5 or SHA-1 hashes may have security risks. Opt for SHA-256 or above.
- Vulnerable SSL protocols – Protocols like SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0/1.1 have vulnerabilities. Use the latest TLS 1.2 or 1.3.
- Weak cipher suites – Ensure strong ciphers like AES 256, and ECDHE are enabled and older ones disabled.
Checking and correcting any such SSL certificate issues in cPanel is important for bulletproof HTTPS security.
Conclusion
SSL certificates enable encrypted HTTPS connections essential for security and SEO. cPanel provides an easy interface to install and manage SSL certificates.
To verify your SSL cert is properly configured, open the cPanel SSL/TLS Manager and check the certificate details like validity dates, domain name, CA issuer, etc. Also, check the certificate is using the latest TLS protocols and strong cipher suites.
Taking a few minutes to validate your SSL certificate details in cPanel can help avoid warnings or errors in browsers and ensure your website is securely encrypted against threats.
