AfterDawn: News

Google pressures websites towards HTTPS: "A secure web is here to stay"

Google's crusade for a safer, more secure web has been taking place for years. Especially after the Snowden leaks everyone has been more interested of encrypted messaging and secure web traffic.

It is no surprise then that Google is about to take another step securing the entire web. The company has now announced on their Chromium blog that their upcoming browser will mark all HTTP sites as "not secure."



Starting with Chrome 68, Google's Chrome browsers will notify the user, albeit not intrusively, if they are using a website that doesn't support HTTPS connections. Currently Chrome does not inform the user about non-secure websites unless they click the information button next to the URL.

When users browse secure websites with HTTPS connection they are already notified that the connection is secure on the address bar.

Many popular websites have already transitioned to HTTPS, and that includes AfterDawn.com, but even on the top 100 websites 19 do not support HTTPS yet. Google tightening the noose around HTTP is bound to bring that closer to 100, and of course increase the overall HTTPS penetration, which currently stands at 68% on Windows and Android and 78% on Mac and Chrome OS.

Google believes that the transition is good for not only the users that get a more secure connection but also for the websites as it enables new features and improves performance.

Written by: Matti Robinson @ 9 Feb 2018 12:44

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• 4 comments

• jjstccean

  Ordinary and ignorant users are not aware that they can click the information button next to the URL. They are too busy being distracted by ads. Ads are possibly the worst case scenario when it comes to security on the web.

  10.2.2018 01:27 #1

• scorpNZ

  Originally posted by jjstccean: Ordinary and ignorant users are not aware that they can click the information button next to the URL. They are too busy being distracted by ads. Ads are possibly the worst case scenario when it comes to security on the web. Site info ? why would any bother with that.Padlock's there for a reason so is https:
  

  http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/
  http://www.realmodscene.com/
  
  

  10.2.2018 13:50 #2

• Bozobub

  Originally posted by jjstccean: Ordinary and ignorant users are not aware that they can click the information button next to the URL. They are too busy being distracted by ads. Ads are possibly the worst case scenario when it comes to security on the web. The word you are forgetting is "adblock".

  10.2.2018 18:04 #3

• Mr-Movies

  Wow I really feel safe now, NOT. I really Rely on Google for safety and is much like relying on Microsoft for my security and yes we have had ABP forever now.
  
  It's not like Google stores and sells all of our surfing and personal information still, is it? LOL
  

  14.2.2018 05:58 #4