Convenient SSL implementation
HTTPS for All

© Lead Image © rawpixel, 123RF.com
The Let's Encrypt project delivers a free, fast, and uncomplicated way to create SSL certificates.
HTTP, still the most commonly used web protocol, is very much like a postcard or unencrypted email when it comes to transmitting data: Anyone who has access to the data can read the information. Because data packets do not take the shortest route – independent of the protocol – but rather the fastest transmission path, you could find that data travels around the world before reaching the recipient. Your packets therefore have no way of avoiding many potential sniffers.
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, HTTPS, helps to mitigate this problem by implementing encrypted and authenticated communication between the web server and the browser. Although a sniffer can still see the data traffic between the two endpoints, it cannot see the content. The Let's Encrypt initiative has the aim of establishing HTTPS globally by making it easy for server operators to implement wherever possible. To make it so, the developers automate the procedures for creating, setting up, and updating SSL certificates with just a single command and within minutes.
The Problem
Whether because of stubbornness, a lack of technical knowledge, or financial reasons, HTTPS is still not seeing widespread use, even though the protocol was developed by Netscape and published as early as 1994 in the Netscape browser. Trusted server certificates are hard to come by free of charge, and the annual costs of these certificates often are not worth the price for private server operators.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
CIQ Releases Security-Hardened Version of Rocky Linux
If you're looking for an enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is hardened for business use, there's a new version of Rocky Linux that's sure to make you and your company happy.
-
Gnome’s Dash to Panel Extension Gets a Massive Update
If you're a fan of the Gnome Dash to Panel extension, you'll be thrilled to hear that a new version has been released with a dock mode.
-
Blender App Makes it to the Big Screen
The animated film "Flow" won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards held on March 2, 2025 and Blender was a part of it.
-
Linux Mint Retools the Cinnamon App Launcher
The developers of Linux Mint are working on an improved Cinnamon App Launcher with a better, more accessible UI.
-
New Linux Tool for Security Issues
Seal Security is launching a new solution to automate fixing Linux vulnerabilities.
-
Ubuntu 25.04 Coming Soon
Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) has been given an April release date with many notable updates.
-
Gnome Developers Consider Dropping RPM Support
In a move that might shock a lot of users, the Gnome development team has proposed the idea of going straight up Flatpak.
-
openSUSE Tumbleweed Ditches AppArmor for SELinux
If you're an openSUSE Tumbleweed user, you can expect a major change to the distribution.
-
Plasma 6.3 Now Available
Plasma desktop v6.3 has a couple of pretty nifty tricks up its sleeve.
-
LibreOffice 25.2 Has Arrived
If you've been hoping for a release that offers more UI customizations, you're in for a treat.