How free SSL works on Internext

SSL (now more accurately called TLS) is the technology that puts the padlock in the browser bar and turns your address into https://. It encrypts the connection between your visitors and your website. On Internext, SSL is free on every plan and it renews itself automatically, so you never have to buy, install or manually renew a certificate.

How the certificate gets issued

Internext servers run AutoSSL, which requests certificates from Let's Encrypt, a trusted free certificate authority. The moment your domain's DNS points to your hosting account, AutoSSL detects it and issues a valid certificate automatically — usually within a few minutes, and at most a few hours. Certificates are then renewed automatically before they expire, so your HTTPS never lapses.

Step 1 — Point your domain to the server

Certificates are validated against the live domain, so DNS must be pointing at your Internext account. If your website already opens on your domain, this is done. If not, update your nameservers or A record first and allow DNS to propagate.

Step 2 — Confirm SSL is active in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel (see how to log in to cPanel).
2. Under the Security section, open SSL/TLS Status.
3. Look for a green padlock and "Certificate is valid" next to your domain and its www version.
4. If a domain shows no certificate yet, click Run AutoSSL to trigger issuance manually.

Step 3 — Force every visitor onto HTTPS

Having a certificate is not the same as forcing its use. To make sure visitors always land on the secure version:

• Easiest: in cPanel open Domains and switch on Force HTTPS Redirect for your domain.
• Manual: add a redirect rule to your site's .htaccess file so all http:// requests are sent to https://. Most WordPress and CMS platforms also have an HTTPS or SSL setting you should enable.

Fixing a "Not Secure" warning

If a browser still shows Not Secure after the certificate is installed, it is almost always one of two things:

1. Mixed content — the page loads over HTTPS but still pulls an image, script or stylesheet over http://. Update those links to https://.
2. DNS not pointed yet — the domain is not resolving to the server, so no certificate exists. Confirm your DNS and re-run AutoSSL.

Frequently asked

Do I ever need to renew the certificate myself?

No. AutoSSL renews your Let's Encrypt certificate automatically before it expires, so your HTTPS stays active with no manual steps.

Does free SSL work with e-commerce and payments?

Yes. The free Let's Encrypt certificate provides the same strong encryption used by paid certificates and is fully trusted by browsers, so it is suitable for online stores and checkout pages.

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