Private SSL question...

#1 11-05-2006, 06:48 AM

Hi all,

I'm currently on the Baby plan and have just added a shopping cart to my site. I want to get a private SSL for my site, does this mean I'll need to upgrade to the Swamp plan? I read a post from an HG staff member in another thread saying that a dedicated IP can be purchased for any of the shared plans. If I had a dedicated IP on the Baby plan could I add a private SSL to my site?

Also how does RapidSSL ($15/yr + $10 HG install + $2/mth for a dedicated server) rate against the Comodo SSL package ($75/yr + free dedicated IP on the Swamp plan) that HG offer? Anyone suggest any other good SSL options....

Thanks in advance.

G.

Serra · #2 11-05-2006, 08:23 AM

According to the chart, Swamp is the smallest plan that allows a private SSL. You can email sales@hostgator.com for more details.

Quote:

Also how does RapidSSL ($15/yr + $10 HG install + $2/mth for a dedicated server) rate against the Comodo SSL package ($75/yr + free dedicated IP on the Swamp plan) that HG offer? Anyone suggest any other good SSL options....

You have to consider that RapidSSL is a low assurance certificate, so it isn't designed for ecommerce. The Comodo InstantSSL is a high assurance certificate and would be fine for ecommerce.

Also, all plans would include the HG install fee, on shared accounts you can't install your own certificates, so if you don't go with the $75.00 certificate, include the install price. The current listed price is $30.00 for an install and an addtional $24.00 per year for a dedicated IP address. (per the pricing guide http://support.hostgator.com/addons.php

lbolson · #3 12-01-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serra

You have to consider that RapidSSL is a low assurance certificate, so it isn't designed for ecommerce. The Comodo InstantSSL is a high assurance certificate and would be fine for ecommerce.

This is interesting, I don't understand the distinction with these apart from the checking the issuer does. Assuming that there is not deliberate deception going on, does the customer have a different experience on the website if it uses the low-assurance cert?

chaloupe · #4 12-01-2006, 08:19 PM

I have renewed my Private SSL with hostgator and it was not Comodo anymore... Check with them to make sure.

www.usertrust.com I think that I can see in my SSL info.

Serra · #5 12-01-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbolson

This is interesting, I don't understand the distinction with these apart from the checking the issuer does. Assuming that there is not deliberate deception going on, does the customer have a different experience on the website if it uses the low-assurance cert?

There is no difference between a low and high assurance certificate. For Comodo, they offer and InstantSSL and a PremiumSSL, with a $100.00 price difference, both are high assurance and there is no difference between them either, one comes with a floaty logo, one doesn't.

The problem is that with a low assurance certificate, the customer doesn't know who they are doing business with. Thats not a problem if they are buying a $10.00 widget, but what if they are buying an Ipod or a big screen TV. Suddenly, it matters WHO they are buying from.

I would say that 98% of buyers will buy from a low assurance shopping cart and never know the difference. I'd say that 75% of e-comm owners don't know the difference.

lbolson · #6 12-01-2006, 10:57 PM

That would be good enough, for some clients the low-assurance cert is in the price realm you need. They are starting out something on the side, they aren't even mom & pop, but if they're going to have something better than a PayPal button they need a cert. I can't ask these people to commit to a $100+ annual cert when I can't even explain to them what it does to make them money, to them it sounds like a tax and turns them off.

Looks like I'd rather use low-assurance than try to make these shared-certs work, you lose your session variables when you change domains.