The latest version of Google Chrome is launching in January. According to Google’s long-term plan, websites without SSL certificates and HTTPS pages will now be marked as “not secure”.
That could mean users don’t trust your site as much, resulting in fewer enquiries or sales.
What is SSL/HTTPS?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. If you have an SSL certificate, it ensures all data passed through a link stays private. Without SSL, hackers could potentially intercept personal information, passwords or credit card details that your customers submit.
HTTPS is the prefix that goes before your web address if the website is secured with an SSL certificate. Without the SSL certificate, your website won’t display as HTTPS.
What does this mean?
Google are aiming for a more secure internet, so they’re gradually changing their Chrome browser to show messages to users on unencrypted sites.
Currently Chrome displays a small icon (i) in the address bar of all unprotected websites. The plan for the new year is to display a written warning, ‘Not Secure’, for pages that collect passwords or card details. In the future, this could even become a red warning triangle.
How will this affect your website?
This new feature will be introduced on all un-protected sites. Currently it’s a small change, but if they introduce the red warning triangle, it won’t exactly be comforting for potential customers visiting your site.
With SSL, you get a green padlock or rectangle in the address bar instead. This creates much more trust and can improve conversion rates.
Google have also said that there will be a slight boost in rankings if your site is fully protected with an SSL certificate. So, having an HTTPS site can be good for SEO – providing your developer implements it without slowing the site down.
What can you do?
Ideally you’ll want to purchase an SSL certificate ASAP, if you don’t have one already. We're recommending that all new websites are now on HTTPS, but if you have an older site, we can buy and set up an SSL certificate for you.
The future?
If you have already purchased an SSL certificate, it might be worth looking at buying an extended validation certificate. GeoTrust provide a green web address bar or wording depending on which browser you are using. Benefits include protection against phishing, lower rates of shopping cart abandonment, increased conversion rates and a higher level of trust with visitors.
(Google Chrome)
(Internet Explorer)
If you want to know more, feel free to call us :)
Want to know more? Get in touch :)