Chrome raises security for HTTP sites due to lack of security on certain websites
Chrome starts a war with websites that don’t use encryption by sending alerts to the users .
The new version of Google Chrome will launch in January , implementing new warnings for the users when they log in on sites that are uncrypted. These pages marked as “not secure” will be displayed in your address bar via a window , helping you stay away from unsecured sites. The action is scheduled to start in January 2017 with the launch of Chrome 56.
The new version works like this when you enter a page that is not secured, the words “not secure” will appear right next to the address of the site that is uncrypted, but will also be labeled with a symbol, a red tryangle, designed to help you identify the unsecured pages.
Google’s security blog team explains that sites that are still using HTTP are risky because “someone else on the network can look at or modify the site before it gets to you.” An website still using HTTP connection is dangerous because it is really vulnerable to attack and individuals could stole credit card numbers and other personal informations.
It’s been a while since Google encouraged sites to move to HTTPS, which is the secured instance of HTTP by using ranking boosts or automatic indexing. These updates will be available in January 2017 so the users still have to check if the website is safe and if the connection is secured.
Google is continuing a series of efforts to improve the browser’s security, but these are the most recent and important steps in keeping users and their information safe. The need for such bright and clear labeling is interesting, as Google notes that users often don’t notice a lack of a “secure” icon or message as a warning.
At the moment near half of the Google desktop page loads are using HTTPS, the safe version of HTTP and since the HTTPS report realised by Google in February 2016, 12 of the Top 100 websites around the world changed their serving default from HTTP to HTTPS.
Google hopes that these changes will make webmasters start thinking about their website’s security.
What is your opinion on the topic? Are you happy with the changes Google will make ?
Image source Flickr
