FREE SSL or not?

[DoctorMason]

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Here is a recent conversation with my ISP (www.surfspeedy.com) when I asked about SSL. They maintain that regardless of what it says on their webpage, there is an extra fee for SSL. Because my store url never changes, I don't understand the need for having to buy a static ip as they claim. Also, I get FREE SSL on my personal site hosted at (www.icdsoft.com) charging the same monthly fee this surfspeedy does. The ad for surfspeedy.com says SSL comes with the account. But they want more money for it. The ad for icdsoft says SSL comes with the account and they DON'T ask more money for it. If anyone can tell me their opinion before I scream "fraud".

 

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Please wait for a site operator to respond.

You are now chatting with 'lorenz'

lorenz: Welcome to SurfSpeedy Live Chat service! How may I assist you today?

kcpa-tv: I need help installing SSL

lorenz: can i have your domain name please

kcpa-tv: kcpa-tv.com

lorenz: just a sec

lorenz: im showing 2 different names on the account here..which one is it

kcpa-tv: Mason

lorenz: ok first of, you need to have a static IP address.. To request,

fill out the request form in this link http://surfspeedy.com/ipreq.htm

if you dont have one

kcpa-tv: well lorenz do I have one or not?

lorenz: let me check holdon..

lorenz: sir just to verify, can i have your name and the email address on the account please

kcpa-tv: my name is [email protected]

lorenz: the account under mason is already cancelled

kcpa-tv: since when?

lorenz: im showing 2 diffrent names under kcpa-tv.com that one under mason is already cancelled, as to when, i'll have to verify this with the billing. one moment pls

kcpa-tv: the other name is <deleted>. so if you still have 2 names, who

is the 3rd person?

lorenz: oh right.. there are only 2 names there, <deleted> and mason.. the one's active is actually under <deleted>. how are you related to the accounter holder?

kcpa-tv: I am the top dog here. It is MY credit card that pays your company and I am the webmaster.

kcpa-tv: hello?

kcpa-tv: Lorenz if you're still there, I need to get your help installing the temporary SSL. Here is the info you need to look at:

https://products.geotrust.com/ssl/freessl.d...reessl&rapidssl

lorenz: very well, your account has a personal plan. now inorder to install ssl you need to have a static ipaddress. this account doesnt have a static ip address yet after getting a static ip add, you need to purchase ssl certificate. now i would suggest sir that your create a ticket for this issue so we can give you specific details on what to do about installing SSL in your site

kcpa-tv: I wrote a ticket already and the lady responding did not understand, and gave me bad information. Go look at the website I just gave

you. https://products.geotrust.com/ssl/freessl.d...reessl&rapidssl

lorenz: can i have the ticket ID then..

kcpa-tv: wait here....

kcpa-tv: it's from Erica, LVB83237

lorenz: ok one sec

lorenz: ok i have the ticket pulled up.. ok, first thing that you need to do is to get a static IP address. To request, fill out the request form in this link http://surfspeedy.com/ipreq.htm

lorenz: thats $2.00 / month

kcpa-tv: HOW MUCH $$ WILL IT COST?

kcpa-tv: I need one for about a month just to test the site. Don't you offer a shared one I can use?

lorenz: all static ips will be $2 /mo

kcpa-tv: And who issues the certificate, and is it shared or what?

kcpa-tv: So you want an extra $2 for using a static ip?

kcpa-tv: If we can finish this today, because I need to test the website, charge my credit card for the $2. Now lets move on and make this thing work.

lorenz: for the certificate you have to get that form here

https://products.geotrust.com/ssl/freessl.d...2").target

= "newwindow"; this is a free SSL enrolment you need to get the csr and rsa keys email us the csr and rsa keys and we'll be the one to install it for you

kcpa-tv: Why don't you get it and install it yourself?

lorenz: that is a free SSL enrollment, we offer a different SSL certificate which is 39.95/domain so if you're goin to use the free ssl certificate you have to contact the ssl provider and they will be the one to generate the csr key..

lorenz: once the static IP is activated we'll need the csr key to install SSL in your domain

kcpa-tv: How am I supposed to send you a secure ssl document unless we

both have https? My other hosting company gives FREE shared SSL's for

about $5 a month...

kcpa-tv: I already told you to charge me card for $2. We need to move forward please

kcpa-tv: this is taking a long time. I wish you could type faster. We have been doing this for 45 minutes and made very little progress. You need to look at http://www.rapidssl.com/freessl/freessl-csr.html and tell me which one of these to select, please.

kcpa-tv: It says on that webpage:

kcpa-tv: Creating your CSR is the first step in securing your webserver with SSL and gaining access to https. Certificate Signing Request instructions are available for the web servers listed below. Once you have created your CSR click the Order Now button on this page. Please click on your server type to view the instructions.

kcpa-tv: So what type of webserver should I select? Apache + ApacheSSL?

or any of the others?

lorenz: sorry about the confusion, i was informed that we do not support free SSL or shared SSL, you have to purchase the certificate whether from us or from another company. we'll be the one to generate the csr key

lorenz: You need to have a valid SSL

kcpa-tv: How can you say that? If I use the SSL for a month and test our website at www.kcpa-tv.com and it works, it will no longer be free.

kcpa-tv: Which server are you using?

lorenz: as for the static IP our billing department will be the one to proces this, just fill up the request form wait for the billing to process the request adn for the SSL cert you need to create a ticket for this...

kcpa-tv: Which server are you using? Please select one from the page at

http://www.rapidssl.com/freessl/freessl-csr.html

lorenz: I was able to verify this with out admin and we do not support free SSL nor share SSL.

kcpa-tv: I don't think your company wants to do business with us.

lorenz: please create a ticket about this, as i am not sure regarding thre free SSL

kcpa-tv: You want us to spend $2 to find out if you will allow us to use our SSL?

kcpa-tv: WHICH SERVER ARE YOU USING, Apache + ApacheSSL or cPanel?

lorenz: no,.. the $2 is for the static IP address, static IP is needed to install SSL in your domain.

kcpa-tv: WHICH SERVER ARE YOU USING, Apache + ApacheSSL or cPanel?

lorenz: sir, please create a ticket regarding the SSL cert.

kcpa-tv: OK, but can you tell me which server on that webpage I am to use when I finish the ticket?

kcpa-tv: Remember, that other lady Erica did not answer the question when I sent the ticket.

lorenz: our network admin will give you that information.

kcpa-tv: Is there anybody in your place that can get this going TODAY?

lorenz: you have to go through the process. we resolve issues thru tickets sir..

kcpa-tv: I'm going to send this entire message to your ticketing. How long before something gets done? The holidays are coming and I have to pay somebody to help out. So I need customer support from your company.

lorenz: you already have a ticket, just reply to that, and our admin will take a look at it. customer support is 24/7 rest assured we will check your ticket and i'll add some notes regarding this conversation

kcpa-tv: when I tried to log on for customer service, it asked for my email address. I geve it but the password did not work. So it sent me another password and IT didn't work either. Do you have any advice?

lorenz: just reply to email mesasge that has the ticket. the status will be set to open once we receive a reply.

kcpa-tv: Do you know which server you are using?

lorenz: we still have to verify that to our admin.

lorenz: the status of the ticket right now is currently close, once we received an email from you the ticket will automatically set to open, rest assured we will take a look at your ticket and i will add some notes too regarding this conversation..

lorenz: still there?

kcpa-tv: yes. thank you for your assistance I'm signing off now. Have a nice weekend.

lorenz: you too..

lorenz: Thank you for chatting. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again

 

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Maybe I was a bit agitated because of the one hour it took to get the above information. The clerk did not appear to know anything, but maybe I'm the dummy here...

 

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[FalseDawn]

The fact that your web address does not change does not mean you have a static IP - many people will share the same IP on shared hosts.

 

If you want to install a dedicated SSL cert, you will need a static IP, and virtually every host will charge extra for this if not specifically inclded in their plan.

 

Some plans include the use of "shared SSL", which does not require a static IP - you would need to carefully check what the plan was stated to include to see if this was included in the price or not.

 

My Advice: Bite the bullet, pay for a static IP and get a dedicated SSL cert - looks more professional and will save possible configuration headaches.

[Guest]

you pay for what you get. and do not get the 'low end' ssl certificate, if you read the fine print on them, they do not verify to the merchant gateway, you are who you say you are.

[Guest]

I wuold not recommend trying to "save money" on installing your ssl.

Your client based will notice and you'll lose sales and you'll get a reputaiotn for not having a secure site.

 

Static IP's and SSL installs ahev always cost me additional money, outside the basic hosting plan.

[wizardsandwars]

That 'chat' you had was absolutly halarious.

 

Your host is absolutly correct. You need to purchase a static IP to install a SSL certification.

 

I don't know why they do not offer a free shared cert, like your other host, but not all hosts offer a free shared host.

 

I also do not know why they do not support the test SSL, but again, not all hosts do.

 

If I was you, I would ask you host specifically about a 'free shared SSL' path. Do not mention anything about the rapidSSL, as that is not a shared cert, and it might confuse them again.