Google Chrome Warning: HTTP Websites are Labeled as “Not Secure”

What do HTTP and HTTPS do?

Anyone who spends time online has probably seen the “https” or “http” tag in the URL of their browser. Despite this, few of us really know what they actually mean. In a nutshell, HTTP and HTTPs are protocols that govern the transfer of data between the website, the server and the user.

HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the HTTPS means Hypertext Transfer Protocol with a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). HTTP is the protocol that allows our computers to connect to data online and is used when browsing the web. HTTPS provides the same service but with SSL which is used to encrypt data whilst it's in transit.

The SSL creates an encrypted connection between the server and the web browser. Without it, your usar data when visiting a site is unsecure and unprotected. Generally speaking, SSL is almost always deployed when it comes to financial data on a website, but isn't always implemented for the entirety of data on a site. SSL can be either a single domain, multi domain, wildcard SSL certificate or code signing certificate. The reason to choose SSL certificate is to offer encryption to the data flowing between the server and the browser.

Why Migration to HTTPS is a Must

Recently it was announced that Google Chrome will be labeling all unencrypted pages as 'not secure'. This means that any site still using the HTTP URL will be labeled as unsafe. Any business still using HTTP protocols today is going to find their reach going down. And the situation gets even worse, once you realize that Google is the most popular Internet browser holding 57% of the market share.

As a result, it's important to make the transition to HTTPS in order to avoid losing users from Chrome. The reason why Google is implementing this change is to try to encourage companies to up their security standards for online users. SSL connections keep user data safe and provide a better user experience.

Unencrypted sites put their user data at risk. Google recognizes that online browsing would be more secure if all traffic was encrypted and is trying to put social pressure on companies to follow this through. In future, when a user opens up a non-HTTP website a “not secure” tag will pop up to warn the user of the risks that come with clicking through to it.  It's now critical to change to HTTPS to avoid losing customers on Chrome.

See the key points in favour of HTTPS implementation:

Your customers' data security

There are many reasons why you need to migrate to HTTPS, and security does first for sure. Migrating to HTTPS will encrypt all data transferred through your site. This is particularly advantageous forecommerce sites and other businesses using online transactions.

Brand positioning

Over the next year or so, using HTTPS is a great way to position yourself as a brand that takes cybersecurity seriously. There's nothing worse than being branded with a website that's a risk to the personal details of your customers! Failing to migrate to HTTPS will damage your website's social reputation.

A chance to improve SEO rankings

The next reason why you should migrate is that HTTPS has become a ranking factor. Make no mistake, creating quality content should be foremost priority when looking to increase your SEO ranking, but switching to HTTPS will give you a slight edge over your competition. In the past, Google has referred to HTTPS as a “very lightweight signal” and nothing has changed on this front.

Website speed increase

However HTTPS also serves to increase the speed of your site. With HTTPS, users experience data compression of HTTP headers, pipelining requests and the ability to stack request through one TCP. Switching to HTTPS will boost the experience of your users, which will in turn serve to boost your SEO ranking.

It's interesting to note that you can still encrypt some website data using HTTP. One site may encrypt vital information like credit card information but not other data like search terms. In the past, partial encryption was accepted as a standard practice. In the future, HTTPS encryption will become a prerequisite in order to do business online.

The Percentage of Traffic From Chrome

Ever since the change was announced, the number of protected sites is climbing as website owners attempt to make their user data secure. Recent blog post on the Google's usage data reveals that Google Chrome's protected traffic is rising on all platforms. Today, 64% of Chrome traffic is secure, a figure 42% percent higher than the previous year.

Likewise, 75% of web traffic on Chrome and 66% on Windows is now protected as well. This shows that the update has been received with a sense of urgency. Website owners are recognizing that Google Chrome makes up a large percentage of the market share and are migrating to HTTPS to avoid being hit with the warning notice.

The Percentage of Websites Using HTTPS Today

It's no surprise that given the update, now over half the Internet's traffic is encrypted. The pressure Google has placed on the shoulders of site owners has increased the number of sites using secure connections. The reason is that no website wants to be labeled with an insecure badge which damages their credibility. Now that 81% of the top 100 sites use HTTPS. Are you still in a doubt?

How Does My Site Get HTTPS Designation?

In order to get designated with HTTPS, you need a SSL digital certificate. An SSL certificate indicates that your site encrypts all the data it processes from site visitors. Sure, you can get it yourself, but the process can cause a lot of hassle. We provide a service where we will create you an SSL certificate on your behalf.

This way you don't have to go through the trouble in order to get certified. Instead, one of our expert team members can do it for you. Our service was designed to ensure your customer data is adequately protected. In future, HTTPS designation is the difference between a Chrome warning and seamless browsing experience.

Last, but not Least: HTTPS Designation Is Vital

If you want to make the most of your online presence, HTTPS is vital. Whilst there are many websites that have embraced the changes, there are many that haven't. Many businesses are not prepared to take these extra steps in order to secure their users' data. As a result, companies that migrate to HTTPS will stand out amongst the crowd.

When you enlist our services you ensure you get a valid SSL certificate to protect your customers. Likewise, we help to prevent Chrome's HTTP warnings that cost you customers...And profit. Having an HTTPS site up and running is a surefire way to differentiate yourself from your competitors.

Another trouble we often fix for our customers is poor performance of websites which were transferred from HTTP to HTTPS. The website should be carefully switched between the protocols by professional development team to avoid mess and performance issues. After the website is switched, it is always tested by our QA team to make sure it is up and running.

In future, HTTPS encryption will become the bare minimum requirement for a company to be taken seriously when dealing with customers. In a short space of time, a massive percentage of the market has made the transition to doing safer business online. And we won't let you keep out of the progress!