The next step in Google’s long-term plan to mark all HTTP pages as nonsecure is almost here. With the release of Chrome 62, due out this October, a “not secure” notification will appear in the address bar of HTTP sites where users input data or when they are viewed in Incognito mode.
Bottom line? Google wants you to get an SSL certificate, otherwise you may start seeing a significant drop in your traffic starting in October.
Here’s a closer look at what this change entails:
If you use Chrome 56 or higher, you may already have seen this pop-up notification. When Google first implemented this change in January, it only targeted pages without SSL certificates that included password or credit card fields.
For those still operating on HTTP sites, this notification will serve as an additional security warning to visitors. By clicking on this pop-up, they can easily access more information about the site’s security connection. Here’s an example from the current version of Chrome:
As they are made more aware of the risk involved with sharing their information in these spaces, their potential to take relevant action may be comprised.
Since 2014, Google has been advocating for businesses to change over to HTTPS and SSL — all with the goal of establishing more secure communications across the web. It has even offered incentives to those who made the transition: better ranking signals in search results that could give them a leg up on the competition.
While Google algorithms have not punished those websites who did not make the switch, this latest update to Chrome is bringing the issue to the forefront. And this emphasis on security will continue to flourish well into the new year. In fact, there is already talk of plans to remove trust for some SSL certificates in 2018 to enable better security.
When it comes to preparing for these changes ahead, the best option is to migrate your website to secure protocols. This, of course, is a process that takes time. With the first update soon approaching, now is the right time for organizations to initiate this switch.
The team at Kuno Creative is here to help you make your website secure, all while minimizing interruptions to your website during this transition. Contact us today so we can assess your specific needs and provide you with a more secure website that draws in visitors.
