Since its birth, the internet has been rapidly growing and evolving. First, there were websites that didn’t really have a purpose. Then, ads like started popping up everywhere:
Makes you feel nostalgic, doesn’t it? (hint: if you clicked, you very rarely won anything)
Source: http://wahrmode.blogspot.com.au/
It’s no secret the internet has been prone to security threats throughout its history—the internet in the 90s was the equivalent of a dark, dodgy alleyway. And while this has vastly improved over the last 20 years, Google has made it their mission to make the internet a safe place for all users.
Great, right? It really is. A safe browsing experience is what we all want. It’s just going to ruffle a few feathers in the process.
What is Google focusing on to make a ‘secure’ internet?
You know when you type a web address, you start with ‘www.’? The part before the ‘www.’ is what Google is worried about—the ‘http’ part.
Basically, Google’s move to a more ‘secure’ internet is to have all websites updated from http to https. Localsearch Head of Search Strategy Stuart Brown explains what this means:
What’s the difference between http & https?
One uses a secure server (https), and the other doesn’t (http). A secure server is technology that allows your connection to a website to be encrypted, which keeps user data safe from people who have no business accessing that data.
As of July 2018, with the release of Google Chrome 68, Google will mark all websites that are not using https as ‘Not Secure’. After years of asking website owners to use https, it’s no surprise Google has finally drawn a line in the sand. That is, set a deadline.
What will happen after July 1?
For those who haven’t transitioned their website to https by July 1, in Google Chrome a ‘Not Secure’ tag will appear next to their website address, like so:
How Google Chrome 68 will show users the http warning
This tag will warn Google Chrome users the website they are on is not using security encryption—which may deter users from making purchases, or even trusting the brand.
How to tell if your website is secure
Simply visit your website, and if you see this:
Before your web address, you have a secure website—congrats, and nice work!
If you can’t see the green padlock next to your web address, then your site is at risk. But don’t stress, moving to https isn’t hard.
Moving your website to HTTPS
By moving to https, not only will you benefit by avoiding the ‘Not Secure’ tag, it is easier and cheaper than ever before. Https also helps unlock performance improvements, like quicker page load times, you may get a rankings boost, and people may view your brand as more reputable.
The best part? It’s not a big deal to get it done quickly.
Even better, if your website is moved to https before the deadline—it’s likely you’ll be getting the jump on your competitors, so you could start benefiting from their lost traffic!
Need help moving to HTTPS? Get in touch with us today