Self-signed vs. Signed Certificates

A self-signed SSL certificate is very similar to a signed certificate. Both of the certificates will provide a secure encrypted connection to transfer data. The main difference is when using a signed certificate you are having another company, UK2 uses Comodo, verify that your website and business are legitimate. When you use a self-signed certificate, you are saying to your visitors “trust me – I am who I say I am.” When you use a FREE UK2 SSL Certificate, you are saying, “Trust me – Comodo agrees I am who I say I am.”

We suggest that if your website is selling products or services, i.e. you are getting confidential information like credit cards or PayPal details, you use a signed certificate. 

If you are setting up an SSL so that your visitors can enter login information or collecting personal (non-financial) information you will be ok following the steps below to set up a self-signed SSL certificate.

Setting up your Self-Signed SSL

**All pictures are for reference only. The actual layout of your interface may differ from the images below**

**You will need to change all references of yourdomain.co.uk to the domain that you for which you are creating the SSL.**


STEP 1: Log into your cPanel interface. You can log in at yourdomain.co.uk:2082 replacing the example with your domain name.

**If you need help logging in, our technical support department would be happy to help. Just submit a ticket requesting your login credentials and be sure to include the domain name you need access to.**


STEP 2: Once logged into the Cpanel, click on SSL/TLS Manager in the Security section.

ssl manager

STEP 3: On the page that loads you will go to the link under Private Keys.

STEP 4: At the bottom of the page there is a section to Generate a New Key select your domain from the drop down menu. We suggest using a 2,048 bits key or higher.

generate ssl key

On the page that loads click on the Return to SSL Manager.

return to ssl manager

STEP 5: You will now click on the link under the Certificate Signing Requests.

STEP 6: You will now fill out the form for the domain that you wish to create the SSL on.

Host: yourdomain.co.uk

Country: Please use this list of available country codes.
State: Sometimes referred to as the Ceremonial County.
City: 
Your city
Company: The name of your company
Company Division: What your company does, e.g. if you run an ecommerce shop you can put E-commerce.
Email: An email on your domain, most commonly admin@yourdomain.co.uk
Pass Phrase: A secure combination of numbers and letters

**The United Kingdom should be GB not UK.**

Once the form is filled out click Generate.

  ssl form

On the page that loads click on the Return to SSL Manager.

ssl manager

STEP 7: You will now click on the link under the Certificates.

CRT certificate

STEP 8: Once the new page has loaded you will fill out the form for the Generate a New Certificate

** You will want the information on this form to match the information you just created on theCertificate Signing Requests form you just filled out.**


Host: yourdomain.co.uk
Country: Please use this list of available country codes.
State: The first 2 characters of the Ceremonial CountyG
City: Your city
Company: The name of your company
Company Division: 
What your company does, e.g. if you run an ecommerce shop you can put E-commerce.
Email: An email on your domain, most commonly admin@yourdomain.co.uk

**The United Kingdom should be GB not UK.**

Generate ssl

Once the form is filled out click Generate.  

On the page that loads click on the Return to SSL Manager.

ssl manager

STEP 9: On the page that loads you will then click on the link under Activate SSL on Your Web Site.

CRT

STEP 10: You will select the domain that you are using

Select domain

Then at the bottom of the page you will click Install Certificate.

Install certificate

If you encounter any errors or problems with this process, please contact our technical support department. They will be happy to help resolve any issues you experience.