diff --git a/plugins/Network/plugin.py b/plugins/Network/plugin.py
index 1866fb6be..b071fc301 100644
--- a/plugins/Network/plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/Network/plugin.py
@@ -56,13 +56,14 @@ class Network(callbacks.Plugin):
 
     @internationalizeDocstring
     def connect(self, irc, msg, args, opts, network, server, password):
-        """[--ssl] <network> [<host[:port]>] [<password>]
+        """[--nossl] <network> [<host[:port]>] [<password>]
 
         Connects to another network (which will be represented by the name
         provided in <network>) at <host:port>.  If port is not provided, it
-        defaults to 6667, the default port for IRC.  If password is
-        provided, it will be sent to the server in a PASS command.  If --ssl is
-        provided, an SSL connection will be attempted.
+        defaults to 6697, the default port for IRC with SSL.  If password is
+        provided, it will be sent to the server in a PASS command.  If --nossl is
+        provided, an SSL connection will not be attempted, and the port will
+        default to 6667.
         """
         if '.' in network:
             irc.error("Network names cannot have a '.' in them. "
@@ -75,14 +76,16 @@ class Network(callbacks.Plugin):
                    # quite sure what to do about it.
         except callbacks.Error:
             pass
-        ssl = False
+        ssl = True
         for (opt, arg) in opts:
-            if opt == 'ssl':
-                ssl = True
+            if opt == 'nossl':
+                ssl = False
         if server:
             if ':' in server:
                 (server, port) = server.split(':')
                 port = int(port)
+            elif ssl:
+                port = 6697
             else:
                 port = 6667
             serverPort = (server, port)
diff --git a/scripts/supybot-wizard b/scripts/supybot-wizard
index 7db6996ff..511363be3 100644
--- a/scripts/supybot-wizard
+++ b/scripts/supybot-wizard
@@ -389,15 +389,15 @@ def main():
 
     output("""Found %s (%s).""" % (serverString, ip))
 
-    if advanced:
-        # conf.supybot.networks.<network>.ssl
-        output("""Some servers allow you to use a secure connection via SSL.
-        This requires having pyOpenSSL installed.""")
-        if yn('Do you want to use an SSL connection?', default=False):
-            network.ssl.setValue(True)
+    # conf.supybot.networks.<network>.ssl
+    output("""Most networks allow you to use a secure connection via SSL.
+    If you are not sure whether this network supports SSL or not, check
+    its website.""")
+    if yn('Do you want to use an SSL connection?', default=True):
+        network.ssl.setValue(True)
 
     output("""IRC servers almost always accept connections on port
-    6667 (or 6697 when using SSL).  They can, however, accept connections
+    6697 (or 6667 when not using SSL).  They can, however, accept connections
     anywhere their admins feel like they want to accept connections from.""")
     if yn('Does this server require connection on a non-standard port?',
           default=False):
diff --git a/src/conf.py b/src/conf.py
index e6ad01cea..95d91980a 100644
--- a/src/conf.py
+++ b/src/conf.py
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ class ValidSaslMechanism(registry.OnlySomeStrings):
 class SpaceSeparatedListOfSaslMechanisms(registry.SpaceSeparatedListOf):
     Value = ValidSaslMechanism
 
-def registerNetwork(name, password='', ssl=False, sasl_username='',
+def registerNetwork(name, password='', ssl=True, sasl_username='',
         sasl_password=''):
     network = registerGroup(supybot.networks, name)
     registerGlobalValue(network, 'password', registry.String(password,