Over the years, security on the Internet has become increasingly important to the general population. Most Internet users expect to have a secure experience when they visit their favorite businesses and websites online.
That said, most people don't know how to tell when a website is safe and when it isn't. Security is assumed.
Google wants Internet users to be safe as well. As the world's leading search engine, Google has many ways to influence websites and force them to use best practices. Now Google intends to use that power. Starting in October of this year, Google will be rolling out a change that will show which sites are secure and which sites are not.
The "Non-Secure" Warning
HTTPS and HTTP are languages that pass information from the client to web server. HTTPS is secure, and HTTP is not.
Most users don't notice whether a site is HTTP or HTTPS while they're browsing, but Google's new change is going to call attention to the matter. In October, HTTP sites will show a "non-secure" warning if they have forms that collect user data. This warning will also appear on HTTP pages that are visited in incognito mode.
As of right now, Google already does this for HTTP sites that take credit card information or passwords. This new change simply broadens the criteria that Google uses to designate sites as "non-secure."
Why Your Website Should Switch to HTTPS 
The "non-secure" warning can confuse people who use the Internet. People who don't know what HTTP or HTTPS means may simply see the warning and stay away. This is exactly the reaction that Google intends. By driving away traffic and branding HTTP websites as unsafe, Google hopes to force businesses to upgrade their website and switch to HTTPS.
There are more reasons to switch to a more secure protocol.
- Rankings penalization: Google rankings favor (slightly) websites that use an HTTPS protocol. This has been Google's practice since 2014, at which time businesses had to decide whether the boost in rankings was worth the tradeoff of switching to an encrypted certificate.
- Customer safety: Penalizations aside, it's always better to keep your customer's information safe.
- Business reputation: Businesses that fail to protect their customers look bad in the eyes of the public. If your customers are hacked because your website is not secure, your business could take years to regain the trust of the public. Switching to HTTPS can help improve your company's reputation and can also save your business from a security breach that could cost customers.
In other words, switching to HTTPS is just good for business. HTTPS is better for your customers, better for your reputation and better for your search engine rankings. It's just better all around.
Need Help Making the Switch? Contact An Expert
HTTPS is favored by Google because it's safer. Starting in October, businesses that fail to meet Google's safety standards will pay a price. If your business hasn't yet made the switch to HTTPS, now is the time to make that happen.
At ProFromGo, we help businesses like yours manage their web design and digital marketing. We've helped businesses make the switch to HTTPS, and we can help your business do the same. Contact us today.
