Do you ever look closely at the address bar in your favorite web browser? On the left-hand side of that field, you probably take for granted the little lock symbol that is there most of the time. But recently, Google changed its policies, so that companies that don’t have that little lock will have more to explain to users and readers.
The lock symbolizes that the website is built with secure encryption technology, which makes it much harder for the website to be hacked. Sites that display the lock are built using the https protocol, which tells viewers the page is secure and that the content being viewed has not been hacked. Furthermore, it gives viewers confidence that information they enter on the site, particularly payment information, is also secure.
The https protocol is in contrast to the older, non-secure http site design methodology. The https protocol makes it harder for ISPs and government agencies to know what a viewer is looking at.
Increasingly, websites are being built with the secure structure. In fact, according to Mozilla, for the first time more than half of the web is encrypted milestone in staving off potential hacks that can lead to stolen data a loss of customer and public confidence and potential site hijacking.
Google changes methods
In late 2016, Google announced it was taking a major step to help keep the web secure. Beginning in January 2017, Google now alerts users when they are visiting a website that asks for payment or passwords if that site is not built using the latest encryption methods.
Sites that are not built with https now display a Not Secure warning in the address bar when using Chrome, Google’s browser. Eventually, such websites will display both a warning symbol and the Not Secure text in bright red.
In order to not trigger the warning, web pages need to be created so that the latest security methods are firmly in place throughout a domain.
Reconfiguring pages requires a skilled web developer who knows how to ensure compliance. At Local Management, we work with small businesses to develop great websites that attract customers, have compelling content and are secure. We provide search-engine-optimized web design that helps your business get noticed and rank high with various search engines. Our custom web design team can build or rebuild your pages to be sure they comply with new Google guidelines and keep your site … and your business … protected.
