5 Reasons You Should Be Using SSL on Your Website

HTTPS or SSL is a secure method of encrypting data that is transmitted between your computer and your website’s web server (or the website you are visiting). Basically, HTTPS is a more secure version of HTTP (the “S” is for secure!) HTTPS gives websites trust, security, and a rankings boost!

eCommerce websites have long been using SSL Certificates to ensure the security of their visitors payment and billing information. But any website can benefit from HTTPS.

Google Chrome has advised it’s users that it will be changing the way non-HTTPS websites are displayed and accessed. Currently, Chrome displays a green padlock icon to show that a website is secure. According to Google, due to so many sites now being secure, Chrome will start flagging the insecure websites with a prominent red warning.

Non-secure website:

Secure website:

1. Security

When a website has an SSL Certificate and is using HTTPS, you can see it indicated in the address bar. The URL will begin with “https://” and you will see the green padlock icon indicating that you’re in a secure, protected environment.

When browsing the Internet and visiting sites that do not have valid HTTPS, your data is transmitted in an open format and anyone is able to intercept this data. Website visitors want to be protected, they do not want their data to be stolen.

A secure connection keeps a third party like an ISP or public WiFi from injecting ads onto your website. HTTPS ensures a better user experience and assures that you are the only one monetising your website. According to Google’s Developer Page about Why HTTP Matters:“HTTPS helps prevent intruders from tampering with the communications between your websites and your users’ browsers. Intruders include intentionally malicious attackers, and legitimate but intrusive companies, such as ISPs or hotels that inject ads into pages.”

2. Privacy

Privacy and Security go hand in hand and a private and secure online experience is what users are expecting when visiting your website. User trust is a truly valuable asset for any business.

3. Speed

Some awesome updates like HTTP/2 (which you can really benefit from, speed-wise) are only supported over HTTPS in some browsers.

4. Functionality

eCommerce websites should seriously consider implementing SSL immediately if they haven’t already – the vast majority of plugins or modules dealing with online transactions will no longer work without https.

5. SEO Ranking

In 2014, Google mentioned it would increase the ranking and will favor sites that use https as a search result, as everyone who wants to appear on the first page of search results have to use an Encrypted connection so this is the only change to increase your chances.

If you’re still using HTTP, you will be experiencing referrer data loss; when traffic comes to your HTTP site, it looks like “direct” traffic in your analytics report. When traffic comes through your HTTPS site, your referral traffic data is saved. This allows you to determine where your traffic is coming from.

Additionally;

• HTTPS verifies your website is the one the server it is supposed to be connecting to.
• HTTPS uses its superpower shield to prevent tampering by 3rd parties.
• HTTPS encrypts all your communications to protect your users browsing history, passwords, credit/debit card numbers, etc.

From a usability standpoint, visitors who see a red warning icon may be reluctant to continue using your website. This in turn can increase bounce rates and affect your SEO rankings.

Conclusion

Should you be taking steps towards installing and configuring HTTPS for your website? The answer is absolutely yes. Because Chrome will be displaying a prominent icon, it could have the effect of scaring away site visitors and raising your bounce rates. More people may stop visiting your site upon seeing the red warning icon. This affects eCommerce and ad driven informational sites equally.

Buy good certificates, generate public and private keys, install and configure your web hosting server to receive encrypted messages. Engage your web host or website management team to install SSL today!