Should I select a Linux or Windows Web Hosting Plan?

If you are running scripts that use .PHP extensions and/or a MySQL database then Linux web hosting is most likely the better choice. Linux hosting also allows for mod rewrite commands in your .htaccess file that permit you to make URLS shorter.

However, if you scripts are using .ASP, .ASPX, .NET, Silverlight, FrontPage and/or a MSSQL database then select the Microsoft web hosting plans.

Do you need an SSL secure certificate with your hosting account?

That depends on whether you are collecting sensitive information or not. If you collect information like passwords, credit card numbers or social security numbers, then you definitely need to have an SSL secure certificate to help keep that valuable information from hackers. The SSL helps to protect the information passing from your user's computer to the web site by encrypting the information both ways.