We wanted to keep you aware of a major change announced by Google that will impact the visibility of your website.
On February 8th, Google announced any websites without active security certificates will be marked as “not secure” in their Chrome browser starting in July 2018. This is important because Google’s Chrome browser is by far the most popular browser with 60% market share. How will Google highlight websites that are unsecure? Take a look below.
And this is what it looks like when your website has an active security certificate installed:
So…what is a SSL Certificate? SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. The SSL certificate encrypts data a user inputs into your website so that it can securely travel from their browser to your web server.
The Bottom Line: Google wants every website to be secure from hackers and identity thieves to better protect consumers. That’s a good thing.
Why Should I have an SSL Certificate Installed on My Website?
- SSL Certificates Secure the Transfer of Data – Whether a user on your website is submitting a contact form, login form, or credit card information, it’s vital to keep their data safe.
- An SSL Certificate has SEO Benefits – Google now favors websites in their search rankings when your website has an SSL certificate.
- SSL Certificates Earn Your Users’ Trust – You want your website visitors to have confidence that your website is secure when they’re on it. Let’s face it, you don’t want your website visitors to see this in July.
And to answer your next question…No – they’re not expensive. SSL certificates are only $50 for the initial installation and configuration, and $50 per year. For all the benefits an SSL certificate brings, it’s a no-brainer.
If you currently sell products online, you already have an SSL certificate. But it doesn’t hurt to double check!
So go check if your website’s secure. If it has a little “i” in a circle like this, it’s not secure.
Uh-Oh. My Website Isn’t Secure. What Should I Do Next?
Call us or click HERE. In the contact form’s comment section, just write “I need a SSL Certificate” and we’ll get in touch with you!