Why You Should Switch Your Website to HTTPS Now!

Are you protecting your website from hackers? No? In this article we explain how you can secure your website and why you should be doing it. Hackers can easily steal vulnerable information when you are not protecting your website with HTTPS. Read further if you want to know what HTTPS is and how to switch from HTTP to HTTPS. It is not hard to do. Actually, it is easy.

What is HTTPS?

Simply, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) means that you are encrypting data that passes between servers and web browsers. HTTPS is a security layer on your website called SSL (Security Socket Layer). Without SSL, your website will display HTTP, and any data that people type into your website forms including login forms can be intercepted by hackers.

Regular websites that use HTTP (no SSL) are open season for hackers. That is why you want to protect your website with SSL protection. This will also automatically turn HTTP into HTTPS.

Why should you use HTTPS on your website?

Websites that should always use HTTPS are:

• E-commerce websites
• Membership websites
• Sensitive data websites (websites that ask for any sensitive personal information)

So, if your website isn’t one of these types, why should you also use HTTPS? We put together a couple of important reasons why you should protect your website.

Builds trust
By showing that you protect your website and its data, you create a sense of security. Your customers will place trust in you when you care about their private information.

When using SSL protection on your website, it prevents attackers from copying your website and tricking your visitors into giving them their information. Your visitors should only give their information to your protected website, not to a copy of your website made by scammers. You increase authenticity, which is beneficial for your visitors.

Browser warnings
Depending on the browser your visitors use, they most likely get to see a warning when going to your website if you do not secure your website with HTTPS.

Here is an example of what the difference between HTTP and HTTPS looks like:

This is a website without SSL protection (HTTP)

This is a website that has SSL protection (HTTPS)

You see? This example comes from Google Chrome. This browser says that the website without SSL protection is ‘Not Secure’. On the other hand, using SSL immediately shows that your website is protected and your visitors’ information is safe.

Traditionally, only pages that collected sensitive information such as credit card information would use SSL, but now the recommendation is for an entire website to run under SSL as per Google’s push towards secure sites and also based on the above warnings given by browsers.

It is safer!
We cannot stress this enough; it is much safer when you protect your website with SSL. Personal data that your customers type into your website gets encrypted, which is particularly important when submitting bank account details or credit card information. By securing your website, you are securing your customers too!

Extra: You can also potentially increase sales when protecting your website with SSL!

Better ranking on Google
Another reason why you should switch over to HTTPS is if you want your website to rank higher on Google. It is not a big ranking factor yet, but Google says that they do prefer secure websites. Security is something Google takes very seriously. If you are looking for even smaller ranking factors, switching over to HTTPS can contribute as well!

It is not expensive
Do you need help with protecting your website from attackers in the best way possible? If you are looking for an affordable option, we are always happy to help you out. For less than $18 a month, you can protect and secure your website in the best way possible by combining SSL with firewall services that include SSL protection. This package offers all you need to secure your website and your data. Please contact us for more information.