Sensitive content are problems that everyone who has a site on the Internet faces nowadays, whatever type of site it may be.
Therefore, the issue of network security is of great importance, so much that there is even a thought of setting an expiration date for pages that do not have an HTTPS certificate. Do you know what these certificates are, how and why to use them?
Here are the answers.
What is HTTPS?
The HTTP protocol is the way computers communicate with each other. This version has no security guarantees, so it is possible that a third party could get hold of the information. To avoid this, the HTTPS protocol was developed, which encrypts the data and does not show it unless the computer requesting it has the necessary authentication.
In this way you can be sure that the credit card or bank account number you have entered only reaches the store where you are shopping and not others who can use this data without your permission, for example.
What are the benefits of HTTPS certificates?
Security is absolutely a key factor in this protocol. Data is kept safe, away from prying and unauthorized eyes.
Transactions are therefore carried out within a more reliable framework. The risk of data being stolen and used for obscure purposes is reduced, such as payments without consent or committing crimes with your identity even though you have done nothing.
There are also other advantages to consider. Google gives a lot of importance to pages with HTTPS certificates for positioning, so at SEO level it is also something to take into account.
It can be compared to what happens today with pages that do not have an adaptive design, which lose positioning on terminals with smaller screens.
In addition, when users see that the page they are on has this certificate, they have more confidence that their information will not be transferred to any other party. In case you sell products or services and manage a direct payment platform on your website, many customers will trust your website more easily.
How do i know which sites have HTTPS certificates and which do not?
Distinguishing between a website with a security certificate and one that does not is actually very easy. Just look at the bar of your browser and see on the left side what the icon just before the url you are on looks like. If these certificates are included, you will see a padlock, indicating that it is a secure page. Otherwise, there will only be a world ball or an i as a warning.
If you click on this, the browser will tell you that the web connection is not secure and that you should not enter sensitive information such as passwords or account numbers.
Some sources predict that in the future pages without HTTPS certificates could carry a red triangle warning of the danger they pose. This warning could indicate whether or not they have data fields to fill in, in order to recommend caution on these unsecured websites.
How many pages have already been HTTPS certified?
According to Google´s calculations, the highest authority on the subject, the actual number of pages with a security certificate are half of all webpages that exists. It can be said that every other webpage has already installed its security protocol.
If we analyze the main websites in the world, such as all those managed by Google, social networks like Twitter or Facebook and the powerful Amazon, among others, a big majority already has HTTPS in their protocol. Others seem to be reluctant to do so, such as E-bay or Microsoft, although it is clear that they will have to do so if they want to maintain the public’s trust.
Do HTTPS certificates affect page loading and therefore affect SEO?
In reality, these certificates do affect the speed at which a web page loads. But not in a negative way, quite the opposite. HTTP pages are up to 4 times slower than those with the security certificate.
Taking into account that page loading is a relevant factor for positioning, since both robots and users expect the web to load as soon as possible, it can be stated that this aspect is fundamental for SEO.
In addition, Google could penalize websites without HTTPS soon, so it is time to get down to work and create the secure version of our page.
How do you install HTTPS certificates on a webpage?
If you are creating a website from scratch including security certificates from the beginning is not complicated at all. It is enough to apply the corresponding protocols before launching the final version on the Internet. For websites that have been around for a while, the changeover is not too complex either.
In order to switch from HTTP to HTTPS, the first thing you need is a security certificate, something similar to an identity card for your website. Obviously not everyone can apply for it, but only those who can prove the authenticity of this identity.
To do this, the Certification Authority verifies who owns a domain.
There are several types of HTTPS certificates, ranging from basic to comprehensive. Depending on the sensitivity of the data you handle, you will have to choose between one or the other.
Next, install the certificate on your server. If you have a hosting provider, they may do this for you, which will save you a lot of work.
Some providers already include it as standard item to their package. In other cases, you will have to do it yourself, or change provider if you want to make things simpler.
With these answers to the most common questions, we hope we have helped you understand what, how and why HTTPS certificates are more than necessary nowadays.
