Depending on how observant you are, you make have noticed websites use HTTP or HTTPS preceding their to the web address. The S stands for secure and denotes that data captured is encrypted, shielding it from being intercepted by third parties.
Using the https protocol has always been a pre-requisite for any website catching sensitive details such as credit card numbers. Until recently the secure sites were mostly online shopping carts and bank websites, basically any website where you were required to enter credit or debit card details.
Google has been undergoing changes this year, marking websites requiring passwords and logins that haven’t been loaded over https as insecure. From October, any websites that have info request form fields requiring users to enter their details to also be added to https—otherwise they too will be marked as not secure.
What this essentially means for those who have their own websites, is that unless your website has been added to the https protocol, it will be displayed as non-secure.
Why this could be detrimental to your website
In a world where cybercrime, hacking and scamming are steadily on the rise, assuring users their details are safe is paramount. Unsecure sites may result in visitors bouncing from your site or shopping cart for fear of having their identity and details captured by a third party.
An unsecure site will also affect your SEO rankings. Now is the time to move to https. October 2017 is merely weeks away. Don’t wait until your site is adversely affected. With the installation of an SSL/TLS certificate, a green padlock will display—giving users peace of mind when they visit your website. To learn more about how to make your website secure and ensure your website stays ranking in search engines, contact XDesigns Advertising, We’re here to help every step of the way.
