Non-HTTPS Sites to Be Marked “Not Secure” Starting in July 2018
Beginning in July 2018, Google Chrome will mark all non-HTTPS sites as “not secure.” Google has been encouraging the HTTPS security measure for years by providing incentives, but they will now penalize sites that don’t use HTTPS. The San Diego web design specialists at Saba SEO talk about the importance of HTTPS and its impact on search engine ranking.
HTTPS sites are considered secure because they’re encrypted, which creates a secure connection between the server and the browser. Encryption is especially important for websites that collect personal information. Encrypted sites are currently marked “secure” on Google Chrome, and Google has been gradually changing the way they label unencrypted sites. In 2017, Google started marking unsecured sites with a neutral icon and the words “not secure.” In July 2018, all unencrypted sites will have a red triangle icon as a warning next to the “not secure” label.
Google has hinted at rankings boosts for secure websites as an incentive, which seemed to be a successful strategy. Currently, more than 68 percent of Google Chrome traffic on Android and Windows is protected, and more than 78 percent of traffic on Chrome OS and Mac is protected. Out of the top 100 websites, 81 use HTTPS. When the “not secure” markings go into effect for all unencrypted sites, these numbers will probably get even higher.
Migrating from HTTP to HTTPS can take some time, so you should act quickly if your website is unencrypted. First, you need to buy an SSL certificate, which is a collection of letters and numbers that act like a password for your website. Every time someone visits your site, the SSL certificate is checked. If the password matches, it verifies the website is really your website, and it encrypts all of the information a user inputs. Then, you have to activate and install the SSL certificate, which can take several days. Once SSL is installed, you can update all of your links to your HTTPS links so your visitors will use the encrypted version of your site.
Whether you need a switch from HTTP to HTTPS or a new, secure, and responsive website altogether, the team at Saba SEO can help. We are among the best web design and SEO companies San Diego has to offer. For over ten years, we have designed responsive websites and winning digital marketing strategies for businesses all over the globe. Apart from web designing, our services also include search engine optimization, content development, paid marketing, and social media management. Whether you need a simple audit of your existing website or a new digital marketing plan from scratch, give us a call at 858-951-1717 today.