Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SSL certificate and why does my site need one?
An SSL certificate encrypts data between your website and its visitors, protecting sensitive information like passwords and credit cards. It's also a Google ranking factor — sites without SSL show a 'Not Secure' warning in browsers, which hurts trust and conversions.
What do the TLS protocol versions mean?
TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the protocol that powers SSL encryption. TLS 1.2 and 1.3 are current and secure. TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are outdated and have known vulnerabilities — if your site supports them, you should disable them.
How often should I check my SSL certificate?
At minimum, check monthly to catch expiry before it happens. Let's Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days. An expired SSL certificate will show visitors a full-page browser warning, effectively taking your site offline.
What does the certificate chain mean?
The certificate chain links your SSL certificate to a trusted root certificate authority (CA). If the chain is incomplete, some browsers and devices won't trust your certificate, showing security warnings to visitors.
Is this SSL checker free to use?
Yes, completely free with no limits. For ongoing SSL monitoring that alerts you before certificates expire, check out ModusOp's Domain Health module.