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Cheryl Anderson
Have you noticed some websites start with http:// and others with https://? What's the difference? The obvious answer is the S, but what does the S stand for? S means secure. One looks trustworthy to Google, and the other does not, and the trustworthy one will get a better ranking.
HTTP:// vs. HTTPS:// What does it mean?
HTTP:// means Hypertext Transfer Protocol and HTTPS://adds security to set it apart and protect against hackers. Since 2018 Google has started to penalize sites without the SSL certificate. If you have an older website, you may not have a security certificate and get the following type of warning.
How does an SSL Certificate Work?
I don't want to be too technical, so in simple terms, the certificate uses a type of key. One type is a public key the other is a private one. If you are using forms on the website with a secure server, the only way to access the message when it's on the server is for hackers will only receive the code, not the actual message.
Does My Website Need an SSL Certificate?
Here are some benefits of an SSL certificate:
The HTTPS:// replaces the HTTP:// address and lets users know you are using secure technology. Website visitors do not trust a website without an SSL certificate, and this will lead to a "NOT SECURE" warning from most web browsers, so your visitors will turn away from your website.
Where Should I Get My SSL Certificate?
We include these certificates with our published websites. If you have a site without a security certificate, we would love to show you a demo website and explain how our system can help you with site security and in many other ways.