Encryption is the process of scrambling data into an unreadable form that can only be reversed with the correct key — protecting information as it travels between a visitor's browser and a website's server, or while it sits in storage.
Two Main Types
- Symmetric encryption — the same key both encrypts and decrypts the data
- Asymmetric encryption — a public key encrypts, while a separate private key decrypts
Where Encryption Shows Up on a Website
- SSL/TLS — encrypts the connection between browser and server (the padlock icon and "https://")
- Password storage — passwords are hashed before ever being saved to a database
- Payment processing — protects credit card details during checkout
- Data at rest — encrypting sensitive files stored directly on a server
Why It's Non-Negotiable Today
- Protects visitor data from interception
- Required to process payments securely
- A direct Google ranking factor — HTTPS sites are favoured over HTTP
- Builds visitor trust — modern browsers actively flag unencrypted sites as "not secure"
For any WordPress site, this mostly comes down to one essential step: installing an SSL certificate, which most hosts now offer free through Let's Encrypt, turning on HTTPS across the entire site.
« Back to Index