A lot of websites, especially older sites rely on Http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to transmit communication data from the website server to an end user browsing on their phone or computer. While it’s been good enough for websites that don’t require identity/financial information, the vast majority of sites that require login details, credit card details and forms use Https. The HTTPS protocol is basically HTTP, but protected by an additional encryption protocol provided by TLS (Transport Layer Security), more commonly known as an SSL Certificate (Secure Sockets Layer).

Starting in January, the developers of the popular web browser Google Chrome and its open source variant Chromium have been taking steps to incentivise the adoption of HTTPS by websites. Adopting HTTPS is vital for any companies that gather user data, as the HTTP protocol is becoming more and more vulnerable to attacks and security breaches, as public Wi-Fi becomes commonplace and people look to their smartphones when they want to buy something. HTTPS prevents the interception of data by hackers alongside other cybersecurity issues, which is a serious problem in public Wi-Fi areas.

Due to the serious security risks posed by unsecure HTTP-enabled websites, Chrome and Chromium have seen to it that in an update coming this October, users will be told that their connection is ‘Not Secure’ when entering password and other sensitive data into unsecure HTTP sites, which will make many users turn away if they can’t be sure their data is safe. Since Chrome and Chromium make up a sizable portion of both desktop and mobile browser users (62% of desktop users and 56% of mobile users), HTTP websites with a secure layer of encryption are likely to lose a lot of customers. Even when visited in Incognito Mode, Chrome will inform you that the site is not secure. The official Chromium blog has provided some examples of what constitutes a secure and unsecure site from the user’s viewpoint, which can be seen below:

The measures already in place are taking effect: there has been a visitor reduction of 23% to HTTP websites that use passwords or other user info on desktop devices. Some say that switching to HTTPS is more trouble than it’s worth, but with this decision by the Chrome and Chromium developer team, unsecure HTTP-enabled websites will suffer as more secure (and feature-rich) competing websites take their place.

At Chetaru, we can provide SSL or TLS certificates for your website at a competitive price to future-proof your website and ensure the security of your website and its users. Chetaru is a UK SEO agency based in Darlington that is excited about building a better future with the latest technological and IT solutions available. Chetaru has the IT know-how that your firm needs to succeed and thrive, from beautiful responsive websites to economical SEO services and useful mobile app designs.

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