How to Secure Your Website with SSL (The Fun Way!)

Table of contents
- 🛡️ Why You Need SSL (And Why Google Hates You Without It)
- 🔧 Step 1: Install Certbot (Your SSL Fairy Godmother)
- 🌍 Step 2: Get Your SSL Certificate (Make Google Happy)
- 🤖 Step 3: Secure Your API Too (Because It’s Lonely)
- 🔄 Step 4: Make SSL Renew Automatically (So You Can Relax)
- 🎉 Congratulations! You’re Now SSL Certified!

🛡️ Why You Need SSL (And Why Google Hates You Without It)
Ever visited a website and saw "Not Secure" in the address bar? That’s basically Google screaming, "RUN! THIS WEBSITE IS A SCAM!"
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts the data between your website and visitors, making sure hackers can't steal login details, credit card info, or even your embarrassing search history.
So today, we’re going full Tony Stark and putting a protective shield (SSL) on your website. Let’s get started! 🚀
🔧 Step 1: Install Certbot (Your SSL Fairy Godmother)
Certbot is the magic tool that handles SSL setup. Run this command like a boss:
sudo apt-get install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
🛑 Possible Error: "Command not found"
This means your Linux system is missing the required repositories.
Run this first:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install software-properties-common
Then, try installing Certbot again.
✅ Once installed, let’s move to the next step.
🌍 Step 2: Get Your SSL Certificate (Make Google Happy)
Time to convince Google that we are a trustworthy citizen.
🔹 To secure your website (abhishekanandok.com
and www.abhishekanandok.com
), run:
sudo certbot --nginx -d abhishekanandok.com -d www.abhishekanandok.com
What Happens Next?
Certbot will now act like a strict visa officer and ask you:
Your Email (For SSL renewal notifications)
- Enter your best email unless you enjoy surprises when your SSL expires.
Agree to Terms? (
Y
for Yes, unless you want to live dangerously)Would you like to share your email? (
N
because we all get enough spam already)
🤖 Step 3: Secure Your API Too (Because It’s Lonely)
If you have an API (api.abhishekanandok.com
), it also needs SSL to avoid angry red warnings from browsers.
Run this:
sudo certbot --nginx -d api.abhishekanandok.com -d www.api.abhishekanandok.com
🔄 Step 4: Make SSL Renew Automatically (So You Can Relax)
Let’s Encrypt SSL expires every 90 days (because they like to keep us on our toes). Instead of manually renewing it like an unpaid intern, automate it with:
sudo certbot renew --dry-run
If you see "Congratulations! Dry run successful!", your SSL will renew itself like magic. ✨
🛑 Possible Error: "Too many requests"
Let’s Encrypt has rate limits (because of people who abuse the system).
Wait for a few hours and try again.
🎉 Congratulations! You’re Now SSL Certified!
Your website is now rocking a padlock icon and looking super professional. No more "Not Secure" warnings, and Google will finally stop judging you.
✅ What’s Next?
Test your SSL here: SSL Checker
Enjoy the trust and love of your visitors
Share this guide with friends who still live in the "HTTP dark ages"
Happy Securing! 🔒✨🚀
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Written by

Abhishek Anand
Abhishek Anand
Trying to make "Hello World" the new "abc"; Strong in design and integration with intuitive problem-solving skills. Proficient in JAVA, C, PYTHON, JAVASCRIPT, and SQL. Passionate about implementing and launching new projects. Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions. Looking to start the career as an entry-level software engineer with a reputed firm driven by technology. Technology excites me and I am always in awe of the change it drives in the world. Certain skills that I have worked with include Data Structures and Algorithms (Java), Web Development (NodeJs, MongoDB, MySQL), Linux OS (with Go) & Machine Learning (Python). And what I might lack in skills I make up for with my determination to learn. Outside of tech, I am a tea lover, an avid actor and have spent my college days exploring theatre.