Mar
9
HTTPS protocol: what it is and why it is important for SEO
The abbreviation HTTPS is often found when searching the web. It is the secure hypertext transfer protocol as well as the encrypted version of HTTP, used to make all network and web communications safe from malicious people.
How does it work, where does it come from and what are its uses? Let's find out together.
What does HTTP mean?
HTTP is used to abbreviate the compound word hypertext transfer protocol . It is the main method for transferring web page data to the network, after they have been saved on a dedicated server. Once the user accesses the reference page, they will be able to obtain a series of important data.
Without HTTP there would be no WWW ( world wide web ) as it is known. But beware, the disadvantage of HTTP is not being able to have the data encrypted so much that someone could steal the various information that is transmitted.
The information and data that pass through HTTP are not private, so it would be better to avoid writing sensitive information or data, such as your credit card, when you are on one of these pages.
What HTTPS is and how does it work
The secure hypertext transfer protocol is abbreviated to HTTPS and differs from HTTP in that it uses a security certificate to make the connection secure. The security certificate is called SSL .
A series of abbreviations well known and used to create an encrypted connection, secure and designed to protect the level of communication in progress (including sensitive data). The “secure sockets layer” SSL certificate encrypts the connection with the security level defined when purchasing the certificate.
It is important to ensure the safety of all sensitive data and to ensure that no one gets into it, especially if it is an e-commerce site where payment data is entered .
A practical example ?
- It serves to protect the transmitted data of the credit card or home address
- To protect user data within a lead generation website from possible external attacks.
An investment that is worth the cost, considering all the advantages that these precautions can bring to the site, to the company and also to users.
How TLS applies to HTTPS
Transport layer security TLS is a system for encrypting HTTPS used for email protection and other existing protocols. All the techniques that characterize it are used in order to guarantee the non-tampering with the data at the time of sending, that the person in communication is real and that the private data will never be viewed by third parties.
The process that initiates the TLS-encrypted communication session is the handshake ; an extremely delicate moment in which all devices communicate and where the keys for the session are sent. The end result is perfect, with secure, managed and encrypted communication.
Google is naturally inclined to avoid some errors, which can be created during the authentication of the Web server. The most delicate step is certainly to guarantee the security of a server and also its "identity". In this case, the SSL certificate comes into play , a fundamental part of the configuration: what does it mean? He will have to make sure to authenticate and confirm that the owner of the server is who he claims to be.
It is like your identity document called to confirm that the person in the photo has that identity and is not pretending to be someone else.
When HTTPS is implemented , the protection levels are activated to counter some types of external attacks. This is a fundamental factor for a website and to protect all the data that is inside, also creating a relationship of trust with all users.
One of the little-mentioned benefits is that HTTPS can really make a difference. A user will feel comfortable entering that secure website, entering their data to purchase products and services.
For all e-commerce managers , when highlighted above it is a rule to apply. The padlock that appears on the browser will tell users not to worry, because their data is safe and no one will be able to access it.
The relationship of trust between user and site owner is a primary element to build customer loyalty, implement a word of mouth and make sure that you can buy without any problem.
Today, browsers warn users who browse and click on a site considered unsafe. A plus for the company is that a potential customer can find the e-commerce or the site 100% safe. With HTTPS all personal data, credit cards, passwords and words entered will be encrypted thanks to a higher level of security than others . A site that adopts this particular attention is certainly competitive with respect to competitors on the market.
In summary:
- The security level protects all data from third parties
- The site will be seen by users as safe, competitive and attentive
- E-commerce will increase its customer base who will have no problem entering credit card data
- Online reputation will be positive and will outperform the competition, without compromising growth and earnings.
Site migration, problems switching from HTTP to HTTPS
The migration of the site must be followed by a professional in the sector. The do-it-yourself method, for this highly delicate process, could cause a series of irreparable damage.
First of all, Google will have to be informed of the transition and you will have to choose a type of certificate suitable for your reality. Immediately after you will have to think about the configuration of Google Search Console, Google Analytics, URL updates and also of the various internal data.
What do you need to pay attention to?
- When setting up a new Google Search Console profile
- A not to disable the already active and unprotected profile, keeping it active
- The new HTTPS profile should be ready to collect all data
- Google Analytics must have a secure profile, otherwise it will not be able to track and collect data.
One less or incorrect step can cause data loss, distort some figures and a lack of security.
Security is one of those elements that most characterizes the era in which we live and is predominantly so for the web.
The so-called HTTPS protocol is one of the most important realities today in order to guarantee security while browsing online. Often we have had news of problems of violation of privacy , data theft, etc., while browsing. For this reason, systems, techniques and technologies have been developed that can increase online security. The HTTPS protocol is one of the most important aspects today. Let's find out why.
The HTTPS protocol
When we want to reach a website, perhaps we don't notice it, but the first part, the one that precedes the classic www , is made up of the string "https". If today it appears obvious, it was not until a few years ago, when the string "http" appeared before the www.
What is the difference? With HTTPS protocol we are talking about a communication system that encrypts data (both incoming and outgoing ones) using the famous SSL certificate . Entering briefly more specifically for https we mean Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure which allows an encrypted connection, thanks to SSL / TLS encryption. Basically, and that's what we're interested in here, we're talking about a secure connection system.
What is security?
It is essential to open a little parenthesis on digital security . The phenomenon is rather complex, also considering that as the protection measures increase there is also a growth in the activity of violation of the same. It is evident that there is a huge interest in being able to access certain data and be able to carry out scams and illicit acts . The adoption of the HTTPS protocol, although essential today, does not completely solve the problem. It clearly improves the situation by encrypting the data, but it cannot (and never will) go beyond the technical aspects. This is why awareness of the use of digital tools and the web will always be very important.
This is because, paradoxically, even fraudulent pages can adopt an HTTPS protocol ; communication with the page is secure, but if sensitive data is entered, they are fed to the bad guys. Therefore, attention must always be high and it can never be an alert, even if on the address bar, to avoid problems for privacy and for the theft of personal data if these are deliberately used too lightly.
Security is fundamental and technology puts itself at its service , but it cannot be the nanny in all respects to human activities which, in essence, remain the main culprits of data theft problems.
What changes with the HTTPS protocol
The encryption of the HTTPS protocol prevents outsiders from coming into possession of the information used during navigation. The HTTPS protocol was initially used on sites and platforms where economic transactions were carried out . As well as on sites that requested personal data. The need for security was greater here, but it was then also extended to those realities (news sites, blogs, etc.) where in itself there is no use of sensitive data. But, as they say, caution is never too much .
SEO and HTTPS protocol
Yes, the HTTPS protocol is an SEO factor that determines the positioning on the SERP of search engines . So much so that it was Google itself that encouraged the use of this protocol, first identifying, on its Chrome browser, when sites were still using the old http protocol . After Chrome, other browsers also report this situation, inviting users to abandon browsing on that site and to pay attention.
As a result, Google rewards sites that use the HTTPS protocol . The reasons are different. It starts, of course, with the fact that we are talking about a type of secure connection. But at the same time, as many tests have also confirmed, the HTTPS protocol allows even faster browsing and better performance .
There is still a long way to go
As is often the case, the introduction of a new technology takes time to be universally adopted. And the application of the HTTPS protocol is no exception. This reluctance has several reasons, mainly technical and economic. The technical reasons are those related to incompatibilities with some older technologies with the HTTPS protocol and which, in fact, prevent its adoption.
