Google's January Chrome Update to Warn Users of "Not-Secure" Websites

While Google has been favoring websites that are secured (HTTPS) in rankings for a while now, the search giant will soon be taking a more progressive/aggressive route.

Chrome, Google’s web browser, will soon begin notifying end users when they visit a non-secure site. This change will take effect in January of 2017 with the release of Chrome version 56. The update will call more attention to webpages that are collecting passwords or credit card information, despite the fact that they lack an SSL certificate.

This comes as part of a long-term plan to help users understand the importance of cyber security and making them more aware when accessing a non-secure HTTP site.

Currently, users entering a non-secure website will see a gray for unsecured HTTP sites. Google’s immediate plans involve instead displaying the word “Not Secure”, in the address bar for unsecure sites and the word “Secure” with the green padlock  for secure HTTPS. 

Eventually, Google plans to label all HTTP pages as non-secure, and change the HTTP security indicator to red triangle, the same symbol which is currently used to indicate broken HTTPS websites.

With Chrome emphasizing the level of security for every website, this could have a strong impact on a user’s decision to visit or avoid certain websites. In fact, with time, we predict users will soon start to obey the ‘secure’ and ‘not-secure’ indicators similarly to the way we obey traffic lights. If the website shows a green lock, users will proceed confidently knowing their information is protected. However, when a red triangle is displayed, users are much more likely to pause and even navigate away for their own security.

Key takeaway?  If you’ve been up in the air about purchasing an SSL for your website, it might be time to make the switch. Do not wait and lose your customers trust. Contact the Global Reach support team right now to set up HTTPS on your website.