“Websites Not Secure.”
If there’s anything that will deter a user from clicking and browsing on your site, it’s that. More and more websites are seeing those fateful three words associated with their site and they are understandably concerned.
In this article, we are breaking down what makes a website secure and how you can ensure your website’s safety.
A Little “S” Makes a Big Difference
Determining a website’s security is no longer a guessing game. We can show you how right now!
Look at the top of your screen. Do you see the URL bar? Beside bloggingwp.com, you’ll see HTTPS.
The “S” following the traditional HTTP stands for–you guessed it–secure.
If you’re using Google Chrome, odds are if you look further left you’ll see a reassuring green lock. This marks the safety of a website.
At the end of January 2017, Google announced that they would begin representing HTTP websites as “not secure”. Google began cracking down on unsecured websites in 2016, but 2017 saw a big shift towards the importance of website security. Not only did they begin marking websites as “Websites Not Secure”, they also decided that a site’s security would affect their ranking.
“Studies show that users do not perceive the lack of a “secure” icon as a warning, but also that users become blind to warnings that occur too frequently.” said Emily Schechter, Chrome Security Team in September 2016.
“Our plan to label HTTP sites more clearly and accurately as non-secure will take place in gradual steps, based on increasingly stringent criteria. Starting January 2017, Chrome 56 will label HTTP pages with password or credit card form fields as “not secure,” given their particularly sensitive nature.”
Don’t panic. Your website is not doomed to have “Websites Not Secure” associated with it forever. There is a helpful remedy and it’s called an SSL certificate.
Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, certificate keeps your website safe. You can also visibly see that security in your web address. A secure website will be upgraded from HTTP to HTTPS.
You cannot afford to ignore the security of your website. Not only does it affect the security of your business and its users, it also affects your credibility.
Would you trust your name and phone number on a website that Google says “Websites Not Secure”? We hope you wouldn’t!
How Can I Remove “Websites Not Secure” Warning?
The only way to remove the “Websites Not Secure” warning is to properly secure your website with an SSL certificate.
Once purchased and installed, the SSL certificate creates a unique cryptographic key, securely binding your domain name and the identity of the organization in an encrypted code that hackers will not be able to crack.
Online shopping is our new normal. We input our credit card information online at least a few times a week. On sites that are deemed unsafe, hackers have the ability to sneak in and steal your information.
An SSL certificate keeps user’s personal information safe, including credit card information, phone number, name, and passwords.
How Do I Get an SSL Certificate?
The good news is that it’s not impossible to get an SSL certificate. In fact, it’s quite easy.
Many web companies are adding SSL certificates under their product umbrella. You can grab yours online at MutiPrimo for as little as $10.56 per year.
Websites come in all shapes and sizes. That’s why MutiPrimo is offering several SSL Certificates based on your site’s caliber and warranty needs. God forbid your website’s hacked and your sensitive documents are affected.
Don’t risk losing money, credibility, and possibly even your business.
Unfortunately, 43 percent of cyber attacks target small businesses and 60 percent of small businesses that are hacked go out of business within six months.
Don’t Wait! Grab Your SSL Certificate Now!
Google’s number one priority as a search engine is to lead users to safe, relevant websites. That’s one of the many reasons they are dedicated to SSL certificates.
Website security is not to be trifled with. Websites that are not secure may find that their credibility isn’t the only thing that’s falling. Google is pushing potentially unsafe websites down in the search ranking.
If your website is not secure, your web traffic will not be the only thing that takes a hit. Your search engine optimization (SEO) will also suffer. If you’re a small to medium-sized business, you especially know how important local SEO is for your success.
You can see the effects for yourself. Visit any website that begins with HTTP rather than HTTPS. Beside their URL you will see a very overt “NOT SECURE”. Would you enter your credit card information into a site that’s URL says it’s unsafe?
Yeah, we wouldn’t either.
Since Google made this change, they have seen a 23 percent reduction in pointing users towards HTTP passwords that have password or credit card forms.
It’s not just site’s that take payment information either! Google has extended their fight for security to any webpages that have any form fill. This includes any place a user is encouraged to share their email, phone number, even their name.
If you have a monthly newsletter signup form this includes you too.
Google’s message is being sent loud and clear. If your website is not secure, your ranking will suffer.
There are no excuses to wait on purchasing and SSL certificate. They keep both you and the user safe, improves trust on Google and among prospective visitors, you can rest assured that your ranking will not falter based on security, and that all points to more conversions.
They are also relatively inexpensive. MutiPrimo offers SSL certificates for $10.56 per year. That is a staggering $0.88 per month. Out of all of your monthly expenses, you’ll be happy to know that your SSL certificate will not be one of them.
Improve Your SEO With More Helpful Tips
SEO is always changing. To stay up-to-date and relevant in the digital world, it is essential to treat your SEO with daily care. Blogging WP is helping you improve your ranking on Google while increasing conversions.
Find more helpful tips, tricks, and news by regularly checking our blog!