Attention! Due to trust issues with StartCom certificates in some browsers, we recommend using Let's Encrypt certificates. More information can be found in the topic .

free SSL certificates - StartSSL Free SSL certificate from StartCOM, the Israeli provider of the StartSSL service, offering free SSL DV certificates – that is, domain-validated certificates. It is currently the only company offering certificates that are recognized in all popular browsers.

How to obtain and install a free StartSSL certificate on hostedwindows.pl.

Before starting the certificate-generation process itself, you must meet the following conditions:

be able to receive emails sent to one of the addresses: postmaster@, hostmaster@, webmaster@nazwadomeny.pl
obtain a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) file for your domain

1. Obtain the CSR file

To obtain the CSR file, send an email request to pomoc@hostedwindows.pl containing the following data:

Generating a CSR file

Common name: enter the domain name for which the certificate will be generated (e.g. nazwadomeny.pl)

Organization: usually the name of the company that owns the domain

Organizational unit: enter the department name (e.g. IT)

City/locality: e.g. Warsaw

State/province: e.g. Mazovia

Country/region: two-letter country code (e.g. PL)

After sending an email with the above data to pomoc@hostedwindows.pl, DCS engineers will generate the CSR and send it back (it will be a text file).

2. Register with the StartSSL service

A free SSL certificate can be obtained at startssl.com.

After registration, log in to your account and choose Validations Wizard → Domain Validation → Continue to confirm that you own the domain for which the certificate will be generated.

3. Verify the domain

In the next step, enter your domain name and click Continue.

domain validation – free SSL certificate

The next step is to provide the email address to which the verification code will be sent (we suggest the previously mentioned postmaster@nazwadomeny.pl) and press Send Verification Code.

Then check the postmaster@nazwadomeny.pl mailbox and copy the verification code.

email with verification code for free SSL certificate

Paste the received verification code into the indicated field and click Validation.

StartSSL code validation

After successful domain verification, click “Order SSL Certificate”.

StartSSL validation success

4. Enter the CSR code you received

In this step, type your domain name in the first field, select Generated by Myself below, paste the received CSR and press Submit:

entering data from the CSR file

5. Download the SSL certificate

In the next step the certificate will be generated and you can download it by clicking the indicated link. Send this certificate to pomoc@hostedwindows.pl to complete its installation on the hosting platform.

downloading the free SSL certificate

Remember – the installation of a free StartSSL certificate is done at your own risk.

Limitations imposed on the free StartSSL certificate

As with any free solution, the free StartSSL certificate also has certain issuer-imposed limitations, including:

The certificate is valid for only 1 year, and renewal requires creating a new account and generating a new certificate again.
The certificate covers only one domain.
The free StartSSL certificate provides only basic protection, so if you need a higher security level you should purchase a paid SSL certificate.

Free SSL certificates