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Should I use "https://"? Should I care about this?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Mr.Dog, Sep 25, 2018.

  1. #1
    Hi,

    I noticed it's a trend to swap from "http://" to "https://". Should I care?

    Why should I change?

    I recently tried to install Wordpress on my site and it is asking me whether to use
    "http://" or "https://" - but, my site works without both (due to an htaccess setting,
    I think), running currently as "www.mysite.com" <<< without the "http" thingies before
    the domain.
     
    Mr.Dog, Sep 25, 2018 IP
  2. JoeSpirit

    JoeSpirit Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Google recently started giving higher priority to https sites than it does to http sites. So if you want higher organic traffic you'll help yourself by using https.

    Browsers are now smart enough to recognize a URL without the http:// or https:// on the front. If you enter "anysite.whatever" into the address field the browser will navigate to that page. If you highlite and copy the address of the page when you get there and paste it elsewhere you'll find the http:// or https:// is actually there.
     
    JoeSpirit, Sep 26, 2018 IP
  3. Bernard

    Bernard Well-Known Member

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    #3
    https:// connections are secure connections. Aside from Google/SEO considerations, if your website has a log in system for visitors, it is more professional to use the secure connection. I know that I prefer a secure connection when I'm traveling and want to visit a website using a hotel, web cafe or public wifi connection.
     
    Bernard, Sep 26, 2018 IP
  4. harrysmith

    harrysmith Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Yes highly recommended to opt for https by installing SSL certificate.

    You have free and paid option of SSL. Control panel like cpanel/Plesk offer their own free version of ssl however you need to renew them each quarter manually hence a cumbersome task to remember.

    Using SSL your domain name have a padlock and a https protocol which allows secure connections from a web server to a browser.
     
    harrysmith, Sep 26, 2018 IP
  5. Jorge Melisa

    Jorge Melisa Greenhorn

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    #5
    Yes as per the google new guidelines you need to secure your server by attempting https. Even google gives preferences to those pages which are using secure servers. If you want to rank on google then you need to follow their guidelines.
     
    Jorge Melisa, Sep 26, 2018 IP
  6. Neil Robins

    Neil Robins Active Member

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    #6
    If you are using Google Chrome for your browser, a padlock shows up alongside the web address when a site is https indicating the site is secure. This is particularly important for e-commerce sites.

    If you are currently using Google Chrome, look up at the address above for Digitalpoint and you will see the padlock.
     
    Neil Robins, Sep 26, 2018 IP
  7. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #7
    It's free, why wouldn't you?
     
    sarahk, Sep 26, 2018 IP
  8. MayurKawale

    MayurKawale Well-Known Member

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    #8
    Yes ...you should...care about this.
     
    MayurKawale, Sep 27, 2018 IP
  9. MatBerrows

    MatBerrows Greenhorn

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    #9
    You shouldn't care about even sharing https links.
    It's just security indicator.
    People still won't get access to your account when using his link.
    It's built in security for your IP.
     
    MatBerrows, Oct 1, 2018 IP
  10. James Liyod

    James Liyod Member

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    #10
    Yes, certainly you need an SSL Certificate on your website to safeguard customer information and trust over the internet. If you are planning to purchase an SSL Certificate for your website, then its seriously positive move towards to your visitors' interest in the data security while making the purchase from your website. An SSL Certificate has a bunch of positive impact on a website and customers even Google has made HTTPS or SSL an official ranking to a rank a website higher in the search engine over on Non-HTTPS sites.

    Benefits of SSL Certificates:

    • Protects Sensitive Information
    • Improves Customers Trust
    • Guard Against Phishing
    • Increase Visitor Loyal
    • Better Search Engine Ranking.
     
    James Liyod, Oct 2, 2018 IP
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  11. Nitish3088

    Nitish3088 Greenhorn

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    #11
    Google is more concerned about the security of its user and also made as one of the ranking factors.

    Helps in building website trust and confidence among the audience, build the loyalty factor, keeps the information secure, conversion rate is also much better if the site is secured.
     
    Nitish3088, Oct 2, 2018 IP
  12. Jim4767

    Jim4767 Prominent Member

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    #12
    I just finished migrating my nonprofit website's 430 pages to https. After much research, I realized that this migration was necessary, not optional. The "Not Secure" warning in the browser for http webpages will increasingly cause your readers to flee in this age of security breaches perpetrated by skilled hackers. Having watched how Google has incrementally made http websites less attractive, I can only imagine what they have planned for a year or two down the road. Read online about https migration and you will see that Google is pushing strongly for https websites. They are going to make it harder and harder to have a flourishing website that is http only. The more the security aspects of the internet become common knowledge among surfers, the more any successful website is going to need that secure padlock in the browser bar for their webpages.
     
    Jim4767, Oct 4, 2018 IP
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  13. millarman

    millarman Peon

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    #13
    Google is abusing its ownership of the Chrome browser to make more of this than is necessary. If you are transacting personal sensitive/financial data then https is a must but most brochure website who only ask for an email or phone number with an enquiry form shouldn't have their users being told it's "not Secure". What's not secure?
     
    millarman, Oct 4, 2018 IP
  14. DigitalNT

    DigitalNT Member

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    #14
    https// sites are secure so obviously, Google will give the first preference to those
     
    DigitalNT, Nov 1, 2018 IP
  15. Mr.Dog

    Mr.Dog Active Member

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    #15
    So, now https:// is a ranking factor? That should be enough reason for implementing it.
     
    Mr.Dog, Nov 10, 2018 IP
  16. Jim4767

    Jim4767 Prominent Member

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    #16
    I imagine that some webmasters have held back from migrating from http to https simply because for most websites it's a lot of work. My website is only about 430 pages, but it still took me (a "one-man office") something like 2-3 months of parttime work to get it done. However, to keep running a successful website in this day and age, I don't think you have any choice. You must migrate to https.
     
    Jim4767, Nov 10, 2018 IP
  17. Karen May Jones

    Karen May Jones Prominent Member

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    #17
    I didn't know it was free.
    OP: Sometimes when I visit one of my http sites I will get a warning from Google Chrome telling me the site is not secure. I do not like that at all. I was originally going to reply to the thread saying if you can afford it, then you should do it. But I see some are saying it is available at no cost, so yes yes yes. do it, it might prevent that pesky hurdle of Google telling visitors they are entering a non secure site.
     
    Karen May Jones, Nov 10, 2018 IP
  18. Jim4767

    Jim4767 Prominent Member

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    #18
    Yes, migrating to https is free. There's nothing required to buy or pay for. You can do all the work yourself. There are numerous excellent checklists online for http-to-https migration. Read a lot of them (I did, and they were very helpful). Consolidate their information with your own checklist, then just do the work. For a small website, it can be done fairly quickly.
     
    Jim4767, Nov 11, 2018 IP
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  19. zimadev

    zimadev Greenhorn

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    #19
    YES! you need to care about this.
    First, because Google is giving priority to https sites so I would do it the sooner, the better.
    Second, just think how many users will leave your site because they see it's marked as "not secure"... specially if you have an online shop.
     
    zimadev, Nov 12, 2018 IP