Google is raising the standards for internet security. They have made some recent changes to how your web browser looks. The major alteration is a label identifying sites as “Secure” or “Not Secure,” to alert web users of their level of safety. This tag appears next to the web address in the upper left corner of Chrome’s screen. The previous subtle lack of a “Secure” icon was not clear enough to show us that information on a site could be intercepted at any time. Google hopes to reach its goal in the near future: that all users will be able to assume their privacy is secured unless they see that “Not Secure” alarm. Statistics already report great progress. So how does Google determine which sites to label what? And what does this change mean for web users? As both searchers and website owners, were we ready for this change?
What Do the Different Labels Mean?
HTTPS sites and those with SSL certificates are labeled as “Secure” with a green lock pad – giving users the go-ahead. So these sites are safe, but what makes them safer than any other? Sites with an encrypted HTTPS are protected so that no third party can intercept your information, such as credit cards and passwords.
Other sites, including non-encrypted HTTP sites, are now going to be labeled as “Not Secure.” These sites may not be aiming to spam you or steal your information, but they might not be safe from hackers trying to do just that. This warning will eventually appear in red – a high alert to users that there is a risk for inputting personal information to that site.
What is HTTPS Anyways?
HTTPS stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure. It basically protects the pathway of information between the user and the web. It offers multiple layers of security, known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS). These security systems make sure information passed between two places on the internet – which can be people, stores, or systems – is unreadable to outsiders. HTTPS also provides encryption to a website. This inhibits outsiders from tracking activity, meaning everything you do on a website is private. On the other hand, loading a site on HTTP or a non-encrypted platform leaves it open to others on the network to look at or tinker with the data.
How Can You Make Your Site Secure?
To earn an HTTPS on your site, you must obtain an SSL certificate installed on your web server. This will ensure the information in transference with your page will only be accessible to you and the user on the other end. The addition of HTTPS also allows you to implement features which improve the user experience. For example, the extra security allows for offline support, push notifications, credit card autofill, and locations services.
Some websites will be easier than others to switch over to an HTTPS platform. A few obstacles can come up when trying to conform, such as broken links and shifting search engine results or an unstable income and ad performance. It is important to keep an eye on web analytics during the transition.
Is this Update For The Better… Or Is it Just An Inconvenience?
“Chrome pushing forward on marking plain HTTP as outright insecure is an incredibly strong and pro-user move. Despite how common plain HTTP can still be today, it [is] outright insecure, and a real and present danger to users and to the open web.” -Eric Mill, a tech expert.
This update will affect a large majority of websites. Traditionally, HTTPS was not necessary for most sites. Only those handling sensitive information seemed to require this extra layer of security. Now, more and more sites are gaining SSL certificates and the web is slowly becoming more secure. Or, at least it is becoming clearer when it is not secure.
This seems like an inconvenience to people with already-established sites. They now have to become encrypted, or they will lose users quickly. However, the change may benefit them in the long run. Signs are showing that HTTPS is the thing to have when it comes to developing websites. According to Google, HTTPS is easy and cheap, and offers the best performance and features out there. Its security also offers users a safe place for browsing and finances. Internet users will start to develop a sense of trust towards those websites which are labeled “Secure.” This will strengthen the relationships between clients and businesses and increase positive views of certain websites. And, of course, it will combat cybercrime.
Secure or Not Secure, That is The Question
That all being said, it shouldn’t affect the websites most of us visit on a daily basis. Most of these sites have always been secure, so don’t start worrying about how much of your information has been breached in the past, before this warning was implemented. It is wise to pay attention in the future, however, to make sure we only share information on secure sites. Website owners should put an effort into switching to HTTPS to ensure security for their users, improve user experience, and maintain trust. Google is making changes, and it seems like they have our best interest in mind. So we have to stay updated.
To unpack more Google and internet rules and hacks, contact Reverb at 860-218-9130 or visit reverbdigital.com.
