Ever heard about SSL Certificates?
You probably have.
If you haven’t ever noticed the fact that some URLs start with ”http:// ”, but some others start with ”https:// ”
So, what’s the fuss about this extra “s”?
That extra “s” points to the fact that the website you are browsing has an SSL certificate.
SSL Certificates are small data files that bind a cryptographic key digitally, to an organisation’s details.
When a website installs the SSL certificates, it activates the https protocol and the padlock and allows only secure connections to exist between that particular web server and browsers.
They are typically used for logins and data transfers, transactions involving credit cards, and securing browsing on social media sites.
SSL is an updated version of Google, and very soon, websites that do not have SSL certificates will be flagged down. Every time an individual enters their data on a website that is not secure, the data can be accessed by a hacker.
A hacker would typically put up a small program that cannot be detected on the server that is hosting a website.
Once a visitor starts putting information on a website, the program gets activated, and the hacker gets the information the individual has typed in.
More people are getting aware of these schemes, and very soon, 85% of people would stop browsing if they discover a website is not secure. This fact is in accordance with research that was done recently by HubSpot.
At the beginning of 2017, Google brought out an update that allows the user to know when sites are not secure. This usually leaves individuals with the option to leave a site, when it is not secure.
Chrome lets a user know if a page is secure, especially if the incognito mode is activated on the user’s browser. Even if the incognito mode is not enabled, once a user begins to fill a form, whether the site is secure or not gets revealed.
Hence, the wise thing for websites to do is that whenever content is uploaded; particularly one that contains a form, even if it is merely an email, SSL needs to be activated. If such content will be up on different platforms, it is necessary to tell such sites to ensure SSL is set up for them before Google Chrome update is live.
Enabling SSL is a great move, and it helps users know that the site involved cares about their welfare and what happens with the sensitive information that is dropped on the site.
SSL is not merely a new fad. It’s a great innovation website’s should embrace. Another advantage of SSL that is very juicy is the fact that it comes with SEO benefits too. Google has confirmed the fact that SSL is now a part of the algorithms used by Google for search ranking.
To Wrap It Up
Lastly, here are tips to help users know if a website has SSL:
• “https://” and not “http://”
• A padlock icon in the URL bar