Did you realize that Google is actually down-ranking websites that aren’t taking security seriously?
Google, among other search engines, have started to take security online as one of their big initiatives.
If your site isn’t secure? Any rankings you once enjoyed might now be long gone.
And even more, web browsers are starting to communicate more clearly to web visitors if a site isn’t secure. If you load up a browser, type in your url and find something like one of the images below on your site, you’re likely repelling visitors from your site.
Think of it like visiting your favorite restaurants. You’ve likely seen a favorable rating from the health department close to the entrance. Maybe they earned an ‘A’ rating or maybe they were given a numeric score in the high 90’s. Because of those published ratings, you trust that restaurant to produce tasty AND safe food.
Now if that restaurant was downgraded to a C, would you think twice to eat there?
Most of us probably would. Meat and dairy not kept at the right temperature. Maybe flies and cockroaches in the kitchen. Our minds could certainly wander to some of the worst case scenarios of why the health department gave that restaurant such a bad score. And all of those thoughts lead to the conclusion that we’ll choose someplace else for dinner.
The same goes for your website’s security status. If Chrome or Internet Explorer were to explicitly tell you that you’re visiting a website that isn’t secure, aren’t you thinking about all the bad things that might be lurking on that site in the event you stay on it? Plain and simple: having a site that isn’t secure is NOT an option in 2018.
And the big problem with insecure sites is that they remain using HTTP instead of HTTPS.
What’s the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?
HTTP (short for Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a way for transferring and receiving information over the web. In essence, HTTP exists to present information to web users no matter what browser you use.
HTTPS or Secure HyperText Transfer Protocol, was originally created to provide secure transaction of information over the web. Whether you’re exchanging credit card numbers, granting access to information, transferring a web form submission, HTTPS requires encrypted transfer of information across the website.
So in plain English, what’s the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?
HTTPS essentially is the secure version of HTTP. They both follow a similar protocol, but HTTPS provides an additional layer of security—using a Secure Socket Layer (commonly known as SSL) to transport data. HTTPS also uses TCP Port 443 by default, which uses separate communications of transferring and receiving information.
How does SSL help secure data transfer?
There are essentially three parts to SSL that provide you and your web visitors a secure experience:
Encryption—encrypting data transferred across the website (making it hard for people to see in as data is transferred).
Data Integrity—data cannot be altered or corrupted in transport.
Authentication—users are authenticated (verify who they are) in order to communicate with the website.
In essence, HTTPS provides the best of both worlds: data is visually appealing to your users and you’re getting an extra layer of security as data moves.
Even if you don’t care about keeping your clients’ or prospects’ data secure, you might consider switching to HTTPS simply because your SEO rankings are (or likely will) tanking.
Today in 2018 encrypted URLS utilizing HTTPS rank much higher than counterpoints which do not. Since Google and other search engines optimize their search algorithms based on usability and experience, it shouldn’t be surprising that they are interested in making sure users are visiting secure (aka trusted sites) when they are browsing.
It you’re relying on SEO ranking as one motivator to having a website that will attract visitors, it’s a no brainer to decide for HTTPS. While there are many factors which ultimately determine your site’s ranking, showing Google that you are interested in maintaining a secure website goes a long way to demonstrating that you are keeping content on your site fresh and appealing to visitors. By leaving your site using HTTP is a great predictor that your site is dated, unappealing to new visitors and insecure.
Worried that you still have an insecure HTTP site? Contact us for an HTTPS upgrade.
