Chances are you have heard about the dangers of an insecure website. You could also be asking yourself, why does my website say not secure, or wondering what it means when a website is not secure. Read on to find out what cybersecurity experts really mean when they say a site is not secure, and how to improve your site’s overall security. Show
What Does It Mean When a Website Is Not Secure?So, what does it mean when a website is not secure in today’s world? Most web browsers alert users if they view insecure web pages by displaying a “Not Secure” warning. This indicates the web page is not providing a secure connection to visitors. When your browser connects to a website, it can either use the secure HTTPS or the insecure HTTP protocol. If a site’s URL begins with HTTP, it means the connection is insecure, which triggers the “Not Secure” warning. What Happens If a Site Isn’t Secure?When a website says not secure it can have serious consequences, especially if it is an eCommerce site. Insecure websites are vulnerable to cyberthreats, including malware and cyberattacks. If your site falls victim to a cyberattack, it can impact the site’s functioning, prevent visitors from accessing it, or compromise your customers’ personal information. In addition, a cyberattack can damage your company’s reputation and cost you customers. Research shows if your customers’ confidential information gets compromised, 65% of them won’t return to your site. Along with the loss of customers comes a loss of revenue, which can be especially devastating to small businesses. How to Secure Your SiteThere are a few ways to secure a site when a website says not secure. One important way to secure your website is by installing an SSL certificate. This establishes a secure connection for visitors and changes your URL to begin with HTTPS, indicating your site is trustworthy. In addition, it’s crucial to partner with a reputable cybersecurity provider offering website security solutions. These include automated malware scanning and removal, vulnerability patching to address weaknesses in your site, and a web application firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic. As we wrap up Cybersecurity Awareness month, remember to secure your site, and understand how to identify any potential vulnerabilities it may have. The SiteLock Risk Score Scan helps you uncover your website’s risk of compromise and understand what steps to take to secure your site. Contact us today for a free scan now and learn your site’s risk score today! Have you ever visited a website only to be presented with an intimidating note that says the site is “not secure”? Odds are you probably clicked away or closed that window to avoid any potential issues on your computer or mobile device. Are you thinking about having a website made and want to make sure site visitors don’t face this same dilemma on your pages? Whether you’re making plans for a new site or you’re already having this problem and are left wondering why your site is not secure, you’ll be happy to know there is a solution. This article is going to help you discover what the site not secure warning means, why you need site security, and how to fix it. What Does It Mean if My Site is “Not Secure”?If your website is showing up as “not secure”, then it is missing an updated SSL Certificate. This is easily recognizable in your website URL as it will start with HTTP instead of HTTPS. SSL is an acronym for “secure sockets layer” which is a type of web security that protects internet sites. They are especially important for websites that store sensitive information like names, contact information, payment details, and more. A proper SSL Certificate creates a safe connection directly with the server that the visitor is on. So, what does it look like when a site is “not secure”? Depending on the web browser being used, visitors who try to visit your website will see warning messages that pop up saying things such as:
Along with these alarming notifications, there will also be a bright red triangle with an exclamation point inside it saying “Not Secure” right next to your URL. As you can imagine, the majority of people who see these messages will immediately hit the “Back” button and go searching for a safe alternative to your website. Paired with the negative effect on your search engine ranking, your insecure site won’t attract organic traffic the same way a website with a proper SSL Certificate will. Why It’s Important to Have a Secure WebsiteThere is a long list of issues that can arise from having an insecure website. Without the proper security measures, you and your site visitors may be more prone to viruses. It could also have a severe impact on your website’s ability to rank on search engines like Google. You will also be more likely to lose business and revenue instead of seeing sales and conversions from your landing pages and others. Let’s take a look at the five biggest benefits of having a website that is secure.
How to Fix a “Not Secure” WarningNow that you know the problems that can stem from having these issues on your website and the benefits of correcting them, let’s talk about how to change a “not secure” site to secure. There are a handful of ways you can fix this and add an SSL Certificate to your website.
Check Your Hosting ProviderMany web hosting companies offer a free SSL Certificate as part of their services. As long as you know your way around their dashboards and have experience downloading items to your web development program or content management system (CMS). Whether it is a WordPress site showing “not secure” or a fully coded site, every website on the internet requires hosting. A few of the most common options of hosting providers that include SSL for free include:
Download a Free SSL CertificateThere are numerous providers across the web offering a free SSL Certificate you can download and install on your own. If you choose to go this route, it’s important that you do some background work to ensure the option you choose is from a secure and reliable source. Once you find a possible provider, take some time to research reviews about them to see how previous users have felt about their experience.
Hire a Dependable Web Designer that Includes the SSL for FreeProfessional web design teams like AWEBCO provide you with assistance to fix site not secure messages and errors. If you’re redoing your website or building one for the first time, a dependable designer will make an SSL Certificate a standard part of their website design services. Let AWEBCO Create a Secure Website for YouIf you want to avoid the site not secure message in the first place, working with AWEBCO is the best place to start! Our team knows the ins and outs of web design to create a website that comes complete with a Free SSL Certificate and hosting. Check out our work to see the many websites we’ve made for our happy customers! Or contact us today to take the first steps toward your own beautifully designed site! Frequently Asked Questions
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Leave a ReplyWhat happens if you go on a not secure website?Insecure websites are vulnerable to cyberthreats, including malware and cyberattacks. If your site falls victim to a cyberattack, it can impact the site's functioning, prevent visitors from accessing it, or compromise your customers' personal information.
Is it safe to use an unsecure website?When your Chrome browser connects to a website it can either use the HTTP (insecure) or HTTPS (secure). Any page providing an HTTP connection will cause the “Not Secure” warning. You should avoid conducting any sensitive transactions on these pages, including logging in or providing personal or payment information.
Can you get hacked from a non secure website?What Chrome's 'Not secure' warning for unencrypted HTTP websites really means. It doesn't mean you've been hacked, but that you COULD BE hacked. Google's taking a more aggressive role in encouraging websites to encrypt their connections to protect user data.
Can non secure websites give you viruses?Yes, you can get a virus from visiting a website. A virus is one form of malware. Malware is malicious code designed to interrupt the use of, take over the use of, or steal information from a victim device. With each passing day and as technology continuously evolves, hackers are creating new methods of attack.
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