The Internet was once a unique and untapped oasis of good intent. Starry-eyed idealists painted a grand portrait of a place to frolic in the interconnectedness the Internet promised.
However, good ideas can also be used by bad actors who use the freedom of the Internet to carry out their misdeeds in complete secrecy. And, it turns out, lots of really neat but also really destructive things can be built on the Internet, including botnets, spam software, identity theft & ransomware. Oh, and then there are people hijacking internet-connected devices and watching us through all the cameras we have in our homes. CREEPY!
Indeed, the Internet is the Wild West right now, and we (the public) are the villagers, never knowing when we’ll be attacked or compromised.
Introducing SSL Protected Websites
Luckily, this new technology also has the ability to adapt and change. One way it’s changing right now is the ability to put up some defense from the outside world. As the world adapts the web into more an more useful thigs, we need to be able to ensure security from hijacking or outside attacks.
Enter Secure Sockets Layering, or SSL for short. SSL is the ability to encrypt data as it passes from a hosting server to your phone or computer, and it’s issued to each website as a certificate. Without it, you are basically shouting your passwords and usernames out loud each time you enter it into a website.
A website that has SSL installed will display a lock icon in the address bar. You will also notice the web address changed from HTTP to HTTPS (From Hyper Text Transfer Protocol to Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure).
Browser Updates In 2018
As of July 2018, most web browsers will start displaying warnings when the SSL certificate are not present on the website. This in turn will drive away traffic and force website owners to upgrade their technology.
The SSL has some other advantages as well. If information is hacked from a HTTPS website, the certificate provides monetary insurance against losses or damages arising from the theft of that data. Think of it as an insurance policy for your website’s data, and all the data that website collects. In our litigious society, it is important for website owners to show they are protecting sensitive data.
A transfer to HTTPS can be accomplished with a series of steps from a website provider or a marketing agency that handles websites and hosting. Our very own digital marketing provides SSL technology for our clients as a standard service. If you have any questions about SSL certificates, browser warnings telling you your website is unsafe, or any questions regarding this new security protocol, don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with us.
