Whenever you visit a website that is not secure, it will show a “not secure” warning in the address bar. Chrome started doing this last year, and Safari users are seeing the same message, too. Seeing this message can make a website look shady, even though it just means that the site is using HTTP instead of HTTPS. Still, if you want to build trust with visitors and encourage them to convert on your site, it’s ideal to have a secure website.
What Does it Mean to Have a Secure Website
The “not secure” message is not an indication that a website is any less secure than it was before. Safari recently updated its browser, and part of this update shows iPad, iPhone and Mac users that the website they are on does not have a secure connection.
If you want this message to go away, you’ll need to secure your site with an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It enables encrypted communication between a web browser and a web server to protect sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, usernames, passwords and emails.
When you have a site that is secure, it means you have a secure connection. This secure connection is achieved in two ways:
- It authenticates the identity of your website
- It encrypts all data being transferred
Does My Site Really Need an SSL Certificate?
Not all websites need to have an SSL certificate, though we do recommend it for most sites. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to build trust and show users that they are on a credible website. Plus, if your competitors’ sites are secure, your customers may feel better being on their site and not yours. This could severely hurt your traffic and rankings.
Bottom line: Even if your site doesn’t collect personal information, it’s still a good idea to consider adding an SSL certificate. Here are a few reasons why.
- SSL protects sensitive data like IDs, passwords, credit card numbers, etc.
- SSL confirms your identity and shows that your site is not deceptive.
- Secure sites perform better in the search rankings. Research shows that Google gives the upper hand to secure sites.
- SSL makes your site PCI compliant so that you can receive online payments.
- SSL promotes trust so visitors are more likely to use and return to your site.
Don’t let your traffic suffer because of a website that is not secure. This simple, affordable solution will improve the security of your website and boost your search rankings. Contact Magna Technology to learn more about making your site more secure.
