Websites are hacked every day. Most of us assume that won’t happen to us.
Well guess what… the other guys did not think their websites would get hacked either!
Security precautions can be taken to block hackers. Every website should be secured with an SSL certificate.
SSL stands for “secure sockets layer” and is a form of security for sites that handle sensitive information such as customer names, phone numbers, addresses and credit card numbers. It creates a secure connection between the customers browser and the server. An SSL certificate is essential for ecommerce companies.
As a website developer, I secure all of my websites with an SSL certificate. Most of my websites are hosted by Bluehost. A security service allows you to apply the SSL certificate within the CPanel. Your SSL certificate is easy to set-up. Web developers can upgrade the account for subdomain protection.
How Can I Tell If the Website I am Visiting Is Secure?
Checking your web security is simple. The most obvious method is looking at the URL of the website. A green padlock is displayed when a website is secure. The website will also say HTTPS instead of HTTP.
HTTPS is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It is the protocol for secure communication over the computer network. HTTPS ensures that the website data is encrypted.
Chrome will be making more obvious alerts for internet users beginning in July 2018. Over 55% of internet users use Chrome. Now Chrome is labeling websites “secure” or “not secure” on the search bar of the domain. Many internet security software programs like SiteAdvisor will provide warnings for websites that do not have the “secure” tag.
What Are the Benefits of an SSL Certificate?
Encrypts Information
You should know why SSL certificates exist if you own a website.
Picture a website like your home. An SSL certificate is like a door lock. You lock the door to keep your family and belongings secure. You lock your website to ensure that hackers do not break into your database.
Your SSL certificate encrypts sensitive information. This include credit card numbers, addresses, names, usernames, and passwords. Only you and the server are able to understand the information. It will be unreadable to a hacker and identity thief. SSL certificates are essential for ecommerce companies.
Improves Customer Trust
Identity theft can be a nightmare! A thief can ruin your credit, take out loans, and steal your social security number. Online purchases make it easier for someone to steal your identity. A secure website is protected from hackers, therefore earns more customer trust.
84% of people will abandon a transaction if the website is not secure. Your company loses revenue with a website development error that is a simple fix. Every website that I develop is protected with an SSL certificate.
Good for SEO
HTTPS is essential for website security. However, a secure website can also be good for SEO.
As an online marketer, I provide SEO services in Bend, Oregon. Creating a secure website is one of the primary responsibilities on my SEO checklist.
Beginning is July 2018, Google will mark all websites that are HTTP as “not secure”. This will hurt the rankings of those websites. Secure websites will get more traffic which is essential for to increase rankings on search engines.
- Over 68% of Chrome traffic on both Android and Windows is now protected
- Over 78% of Chrome traffic on both Chrome OS and Mac is now protected
- 81 of the top 100 sites on the web use HTTPS by default
Speak with your website developer about securing your website with HTTPS and SSL. Get Global Marketing develops secure websites in Bend, Oregon. Contact us today to revamp or build a new website.