https: vs http: Google Cares and So Should You!

byGlen B

1.3K followers

6 years ago

It is important that you understand the difference between these two web protocols. First for your security and second because your website needs to be using it.

What is HTTP and HTTPS

HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol and the HTTPS is the secure version of this protocol. It is the protocol that is used to send data between your browser and the website you are connected to.

The HTTP version of the protocol sends the data as plain readable text. This means that any smart high tech guru or hacker can read the traffic and gather any data being passed.

So what who cares?

Well many websites gather and pass information in forms with email and credit card information. Now it becomes clear this is not a good thing.

The HTTPS version of this protocol encrypts the data so that it is unreadable by someone trying to pry.

How do I know when I'm on a site that's secure?

In the image above you will see that the Wealthy Affiliate site is clearly marked as secure in the URL with the padlock closed and the word Secure clearly displayed. Most browsers now display this clearly. You will also notice the https:// is shown in the URL itself.

This lets us know that we are on a secure website and the data being passed between us and the website is secure.

How Do I Know Google Cares if a Site is Secure or Not?

In July of this year (2018) the Google Chrome browser started clearly marking NON-HTTPS sites as 'not secure'.

In August (2018) Google started sending out warning emails to web owners letting them know that they should secure their websites.

In October 2017 Google issued an update that started penalizing websites if they did not implement an SSL Certificate on the site.

SSL What's That?

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer which just means it's another layer in the protocol that tells it that the site is secure. There is a lot more to how get and SSL certificate and make your site secure but don't worry about that you are covered here at Wealthy Affiliate.

As I stated above when a site is secure it has the HTTPS:// protocol running and the site is marked as secure.

This is done when a site is issued an SSL Certificate that lets the HTTPS protocol know the site is secure using the secure socket layer.

Enough of the Techno Mumbo Jumbo How do I Make Sure My Site is Secure?

In a world beyond Wealthy Affiliate a web owner would need to first purchase an SSL certificate (A cost that used to be around $60.00. Today you can get one much cheaper even for Free) They would then need to have the certificate applied to the website. After this is done the site would then show as secure.

Here at Wealthy Affiliate we don't have to worry about all of that we have a simple option to turn it on.

How Do I Make My Site Secure on Wealthy Affiliate

There are some great tutorials here on WA on how to do this. This Article by Valarie Joy explains it quite well:

How to Change from HTTP to HTTPS for WA Hosted Websites

Here's a couple of screen shots.

1. Click on Websites Then Details

2. Scroll Down and Find FREE SSL and turn it on.

Yes, Wealthy Affiliate has Made it That Easy!

Let's Wrap Things Up

If you're progressing through the training you know that a key part of being successful is getting your site to rank high for your keyword.

Well HTTPS and SSL is an important part of that. If you haven't turned this option on you should do it now.

Google will penalize you if your site is not HTTPS. People browsing to your site will not likely stay on the site if it's not Secure.

Take a moment now and do it!

If you have found this post to be helpful please click the like button. Please add any comments below I love to hear from you and follow me to see more posts just like this.

Sincerely,
- Glen B