In a nut shell, an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information sent to the server using SSL technology.
For years, Google has been pushing all website owners towards HTTPS encryption, marking HTTPS websites with a green ‘secure’ padlock icon in browsers to show users that the website is secure.
This used to be a requirement for e-commerce sites and any website that had a ‘login’ system that required people to enter sensitive information like passwords or credit card data. However, for the past couple of years, Google has been encouraging all website owners to move over to HTTPS. You’ll probably even notice that secure sites are appearing higher in search engine results as well.
You’ve probably noticed this already on some sites, but now Google’s Chrome browser will be marking non-HTTPS websites as ‘not secure’. This means that if your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, Google Chrome will be essentially warning users that your website isn’t trustworthy. NOT A GOOD THING FOR YOUR VISITORS TO SEE!
My suggestion would be to get your site secured as soon as possible and make that your top priority. Get with your hosting provider and find out about their SSL certificates options and prices. Some hosting providers even offer free SSL Certificates with your hosting subscription. With our Website Care Packages, you get a free SSL certificate along with monitoring and updates of your website.
