ByStarting from July 24, 2018, a significant change took place in the digital realm: Google Chrome started labeling websites without HTTPS encryption as “Not Secure” in the address bar. This move was a significant step towards enhancing online security and setting a standard for other browsers to follow suit. If you’ve stumbled upon this piece, you’re probably pondering over what exactly this “Not Secure” label entails for website owners and marketers alike. Let’s delve into the significance of this label in the digital landscape.
The internet. Such a beautiful thing. Yet, like a wild animal, it can sometimes be dangerous. If you’ve been online for even a short amount of time, you probably know that sometimes bad things can happen to good websites.
If you’re seeing the warning “Not Secure” in front of your domain name, you might think your site has been compromised. However, it may just be that your website’s security isn’t up to Google’s standards.
Any website accessed with this version of Chrome will display a “Not Secure” warning if it does not use a secure connection (HTTPS). This is part of Google’s initiative to make the web more secure.
If you’re seeing the Not Secure error, it likely means that your site doesn’t have an SSL certificate and is not using the HTTPS protocol. The notification does not mean that your site is compromised or not functioning correctly.
FAQ about Google’s not secure warning
Is SSL only for ecommerce sites?
It used to be that only websites that handle payments need SSLs. However, SSL encryption protects all information that passes through the browser to the server, including logins and passwords, and even web admin credentials. With the Not Secure warning, it doesn’t matter whether the site takes data. All websites need to use encryption by SSL to ensure secure transfer of information – sensitive or not.
Can I use a free SSL certificate?
As long as your hosting provider allows you to install them, yes, absolutely.
Is this just Chrome or will Firefox and other browsers do this too?
Yes, this is a requirement of all major browsers at this time.
I have multiple websites and cannot afford to buy that many SSL Certificates.
Customers with multiple websites can consider the multiple domains SSL certificate, also known as SANs (Subject Alternative Names) SSL Certificate. This type of certificate lets you buy a single SSL but can protect multiple websites. It saves money and time. You only need to manage one SSL for all your websites, not many.
