The changes Google are making with non-SSL payment websites in January
Google has marked non-SSL websites as ‘not secure’ in Chrome for years now, and any site still without an SSL certificate risks warning every visitor away before they read a word of your content.
What is an SSL
Secure Sockets Layer ensures that any data passed to and from your browser to your website is secure and safe. If you are running an online store, then the payments are classed as data. Google has been determined about SSL for a while. Serving websites over an encoded connection appears impressive, but when the World’s largest search engine begins to take new action, you know it’s time to follow suit.
For some time now, Google has boosted sites that use SSL in their search rankings, but now they’re beginning to make things more difficult for websites that don’t use SSL.
Does your site have an SSL
Take a look at the website address in the browser – a site that has SSL will begin its address with “https” and a small green lock, which of course means that the site is trusted and safe to use. Of course visitors to none secure sites without SSL won’t suddenly go into lock down and disappear from the worldwide web, but for any online business, who currently sells services or products through their website, it’s advisable to be prepared for any future changes. In the long term, the web will progress to being secure and having a Secure Sockets Layer by default.
Your SSL options
Basically, you have 3 options you can consider and effect:
- Do nothing – Sit tight and see what happens. However, if you are running an online store without SSL can you be sure that the details you collect from your clients are secure?
- Spend cash and purchase an SSL through your webhost or an alternative provider. Some companies will offer you free SSL as you first register your domain, or if not you will have to pay an annual fee to have one which you need to renew each year.
- Try SSL proxy service for Free – As there are initiatives underway to provide free SSL services for everyone in the future, there are proxy services you can utilise in the interim. In this way, your website runs securely through the free proxy site first, with them providing the SSL.
