The Difference Between A Secured (HTTPS) And Non-Secure (HTTP) Site

You might automatically think that a secure site is best (and you’d be right). But have you ever asked yourself, “just what the hell does that extra S do?” You’ve asked, we’ll tell, along with explaining how web security will only ever continue to grow. 

First, What Are These SSL Certificates? What Does Secure Mean?

Websites that are secure (HTTPS) have an SSL Certificate, which means any data that is passed between a server and user is encrypted. Your sensitive information, like names, addresses and credit card details, will therefore remain private and untraceable to the likes of hackers.

A non-secure site doesn’t have those protections. A hackers paradise in other words. They’re more likely to be found by them, and your data is at a greater threat of misuse or theft. Not good, especially if you have an e-Commerce business or utilise online transactions of any sort. 

The easiest way to tell if a site is secure is the padlock icon in the search bar. When there’s a padlock, it’s secure. When it’s secure, it’s better. Simple.

Why Does That S Matter So Much In HTTPS?

Does your website collect data? Forget about sales, do you ask a visitor for their email address or contact details? Because if you do, that information can be found by those pesky hackers. 

By protecting these contact details, it’s going to reduce your risk of spam, malicious email phishing, cold calls as well as various other possible attacks. Putting an SSL certificate on your site might not stop companies from selling your data, but it’s good practice.

Visual representation of safely using a non-secure website. Don’t. 

What Can You Do To Further Protect Yourself?

Don’t

Share Your

Data With Websites 

That Don’t Have An SSL Certificate. 

Or avoid them at all costs. You can also unsubscribe (or not subscribe in the first place) from any irrelevant companies that are filling up your inbox. Whilst many of them will pose no actual threat, it can be difficult to differentiate from what is and isn’t legitimate when you have emails jumping out at you from every side! 

And What About Those VPNs?

Another option is to also get a VPN- Virtual Private Network. These are an extra layer of protection and ideal if you’re also travelling and using unknown networks. They encrypt your data from the get-go, so it means your device is protected against malware and data hacking. It can also be used to access websites from different countries if needed. Some also offer options such as Hack Lock ID- which will tell you when your accounts or emails are under threat from hacking and advise you on which passwords may have been exposed online. 

In Summary

Short but sweet really- no padlock= don’t share details with the site. The risks of your data being intercepted are incredibly high, so it’s not something to ignore. VPN’s are a great option for extra security and are a far more trustworthy option than only using a private browser. Which would offer you some protection, but doesn’t cover quite as much as a VPN might. 

Regardless of how you look at it, your online data security should be a priority. Whether it’s just a matter of convenience and avoiding spam, to serious data protection issues. If a company isn’t encrypting your data from their side it should make you curious as to why. 

And whilst we’re at it- clearing your cache should be on here just for smoother running! 

If you’ve got any questions on protecting your data or websites, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.