SSL Certificate - Secure Websites
SSL and Google
While the real purpose of SSL is securing information between the visitor and your site, there are other benefits, namely pleasing Google and the opportunity for a page rank boost. Google is serious about its browser security, and has taken the stance that ALL data submitted to Google listed websites should be secured with SSL.
Google has launched of Google Chrome, and this version would show a “NOT SECURE” warning when users enter text in a form on an HTTP page (meaning pages without an SSL certificate) that collect passwords or credit cards as non-secure, as part of a long-term plan to mark all HTTP sites as non-secure.
The idea is that website browsers know the information is going over the internet unencrypted. No doubt this will have a profound impact on user experience. No one wants to go to a website labeled not secure.
Popular browser Firefox has taken a slightly different approach to highlighting insecure sites. They highlight the password box with a special note about insecure forms.
As much as these may seem like harsh measures on behalf of Google, it is rewarding HTTPS websites with a favorable ranking over insecure sites in their search engine results.
Should your website be secure, by having a SSL Certificate installed? YES.
What is SSL?
SSL Stands for secure sockets layer. Protocol for web browsers and servers that allows for the authentication, encryption and decryption of data sent over the Internet.
Does your website need to have a SSL Certificate / Be Secure, even if it's not an E-commerce website? Your website simply features products, services, and information about your business. Do you still need to have a SSL Certificate / Be Secure?
The Short Version
We’ll just say it: yes. Your website needs a SSL certificate If you’re asking for any personal information. But that’s not all there is to it. Search engines are cracking down on perceived ‘non-secure’ websites.
Any websites without the SSL certificate will remain http while those with encryption will show https in users’ browsers.
Chrome, Firefox and other browsers have began issuing warnings that non-https sites are insecure. Additionally, Google recently announced SSL is a ranking signal, so unless you have SSL your site will be harder to find, impacting on your traffic and revenue.
At TheMillCreek.net Website Design, we include SSL Certification / Security on each and every website that we handle.