how to fix WordPress website not secure warning

Understanding the “Not Secure” Warning in WordPress

When your WordPress website displays a “Not Secure” warning, it primarily indicates that your site is not using an HTTPS connection. This can undermine user trust and lower your site’s SEO ranking. Here’s a comprehensive guide to resolving this issue.

Step 1: Purchase an SSL Certificate

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates encrypt data transmitted between your server and users’ browsers. You can purchase SSL certificates from your hosting provider or independent certification authorities. Prices vary, but many hosts now offer free options like Let’s Encrypt.

Step 2: Install and Activate the SSL Certificate

Once obtained, you need to install your SSL certificate on your hosting dashboard. Most hosting services offer a one-click installation process. For manual installation:

• Access your hosting control panel.
• Navigate to the SSL/TLS section.
• Follow the instructions to install the certificate, typically involving copying and pasting certificate files.

Step 3: Configure WordPress to Use HTTPS

Post-installation, ensure your WordPress site runs over HTTPS by updating the site URL:

• Go to your WordPress dashboard.
• Access ‘Settings’ > ‘General’.
• Update your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) from http:// to https://.
• Save the changes.

Step 4: Implement a Site-Wide 301 Redirect

To avoid SEO penalties due to duplicate content (HTTP and HTTPS versions of your site), implement a 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS. This can be done via .htaccess if you’re on an Apache server:

• Access your .htaccess file through FTP or File Manager in your hosting panel.

• Add the following lines at the top of the file:

  RewriteEngine On
  RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} 80
  RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.yourdomain.com/$1 [R,L]

Replace “yourdomain.com” with your actual domain name.

Step 5: Update Hardcoded Links

Scan your WordPress site for hardcoded http:// links (in widgets, templates, or posts) and replace them with https://. Tools like the ‘Better Search Replace’ plugin can automate this process by bulk-updating URLs in your database.

Step 6: Update Third-Party Services

Update all connections with third-party services (like Google Analytics, social media platforms) to HTTPS, ensuring data integrity and security.

Step 7: Fix Mixed Content Issues

Mixed content occurs when an HTTPS site contains elements loaded over HTTP. This can keep the “Not Secure” warning active:

• Use the Chrome DevTools (right-click > Inspect > Console tab) to identify resources loading over HTTP.
• Update those links to HTTPS.

Alternatively, plugins like ‘Really Simple SSL’ automatically fix mixed content by rewriting HTTP URLs to HTTPS.

Step 8: Test the SSL Implementation

Use online tools like SSL Labs’ SSL Test to check your site’s SSL configuration and ensure there are no errors or vulnerabilities.

Step 9: Monitor and Maintain

Regularly check your SSL certificate’s expiration and renew it before it expires to avoid reverting to a not secure state. Monitoring tools can alert you before your SSL certificate expires.

Optimizing for SEO and User Confidence

Implementing SSL correctly helps enhance user trust and confidence while boosting your site’s SEO as Google gives preference to secure sites. By methodically addressing the “Not Secure” warning, you reinforce your commitment to user security and improve your site’s credibility and search engine ranking.