Encrypting all web traffic

It’s important to encrypt the communication to and from your web servers. Even a simple blog or company website with no login has several advantages of being encrypted:

• Maintaining user trust: Encrypting your web pages with HTTPS helps establish trust between your website and your users. When a user sees the padlock icon in their web browser indicating that the connection is secure, they can be more confident that their data is being transmitted securely. Browsers will show sites that are not encrypted. Chrome and Edge browsers will show text as not secure next to the URL or as Mozilla’s red slashed padlock.
• SEO benefits: Google has stated that HTTPS is a ranking factor in their search algorithm. This means that websites that use HTTPS may rank higher in search results than those that do not.
• Browser warnings: Modern web browsers such as Chrome and Firefox now display warning messages when a user visits a non-HTTPS website that collects sensitive information. This can discourage users from using your website and negatively impact your business.
• Compliance: If your website is subject to certain regulations or standards, such as PCI DSS or HIPAA, encrypting your web pages with HTTPS may be required to comply with those regulations.

Note

While SSL is a term that is commonly used, modern systems actually use Transport Layer Security (TLS) as the encryption technology. SSL, being an older technology, has some security flaws, which is why TLS was developed as an upgraded version of SSL. TLS addresses the existing vulnerabilities of SSL, making it a much safer option.

Overall, encrypting web pages with HTTPS is important for protecting sensitive data, maintaining user trust, and complying with regulations and standards. It is also becoming increasingly important for SEO and avoiding browser warnings that may negatively impact your website’s reputation. It’s also easy to do and free with services such as Let’s Encrypt (https://letsencrypt.org/) and ZeroSSL (https://zerossl.com/).

Both Let’s Encrypt and ZeroSSL provide free security certificates, including SSL/TLS certificates, that are used to encrypt HTTP traffic. SSL/TLS certificates are used to encrypt web traffic, allowing for encrypted communication between web servers and web browsers. Let’s Encrypt was created to make it easier for website owners to obtain SSL/TLS certificates and enable HTTPS on their websites. Prior to Let’s Encrypt, obtaining SSL/TLS certificates was often a complicated and expensive process involving manual verification and payment to certificate authorities. Let’s Encrypt streamlines this process by automating the verification process and providing certificates for free.

Let’s Encrypt certificates are trusted by all major web browsers and operating systems. They are issued for a period of 90 days and can be renewed automatically using an automated client software. Let’s Encrypt also provides an Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME) protocol that allows web servers to automate the process of obtaining, renewing, and revoking certificates.