HTTP sites to be marked “not secure”

From July 2018, Google is alerting users when a site – any site – is using a non-secure HTTP connection, similar to the warning users currently see when visiting non-secure sites that request credit card and password information.

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), a variant of the weaker HTTP, is a secure encryption standard that ensures data in transition is transmitted securely and cannot be intercepted by a third party. It does through a secure socket layer (SSL).

Google isn’t the only browser working to create an HTTPS-only Internet. Mozilla’s Firefox 59 is set to make a similar move in the near future. And both Microsoft and Apple intend to follow.

With more and more companies committed to creating a safer browsing experience, tackling hacking and privacy concerns head on, it’s clear that having an HTTPS protocol running on your site should be your foremost concern.

No excuse for not using HTTPS

Google has long worked to create a safer Internet, offering developers various incentives to make the transition to encrypted HTTPS connections.

Not long ago, for example, Google began rewarding secure sites with greater search visibility. And last year, with the release of Chrome 56, the company started penalising any site which collected password and credit card information via a non-secure HTTP connection.

A recent report from Google show that its efforts to create a safer, more secure Internet are working as more and more developers have transitioned their sites to HTTPS:

• Over 68% of Chrome traffic on both Android and Windows is now protected
• Over 78% of Chrome traffic on both Chrome OS and Mac is now protected
• 81 of the top 100 sites on the web use HTTPS by default

And now, with the July release of Chrome 68, Google will take its efforts one step further, penalising all non secure websites, not just those which ask users to enter personal information.

Purchase an SSL certificate

If your site in marked insecure, Chrome users will not be blocked from accessing it. Chrome 68 won’t cripple your site functionality in any way – at least not yet.

However, the warning your users see when they access your site will raise doubts about how trustworthy you are. Many users are likely to heed the warning and look for a secure alternative. Why risk this loss of trust and traffic?

With the July deadline fast approaching, we strongly encourage you to make the transition to HTTPS now.

EuroDNS offers four different SSL certificates, all of which are:

• SHA-2
• Easy to set up and cost effective
• Supported by Google Chrome

Each certificate provides a different levels of security, designed to meet our customers' unique needs.

If you aren’t sure which SSL certificate is the best choice for you, we encourage you to get in touch with us. The last thing you want is Google Chrome 68’s security warning scaring users away.

HTTPS is here to stay, so why put off making the transition?

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