Safe Net – https only mode

More than 89 million websites are secured by SSL certificates, according to a survey conducted by Netcraft in November. They represent a significant percentage of all the websites out there.[1]This is good news for users because SSL encryption minimizes the risk of data loss or theft.

It’s hard to believe that SSL certificates, which are a global standard today, were the exception merely three years ago and were only used by sites handling financial transactions. At present, most websites that allow entering any data employ an SSL protocol. The widespread use of certificates is due to Certificate Authorities and Browser owners.

The concept of a safe Internet
Browsers, in particular, are a determinant of the directions of development and security standards of the Internet. Google has been promoting the “HTTPS Everywhere” policy for years — a secure and encrypted Internet. Currently, more than 68% of users use Google Chrome[2], so it’s no wonder that Google has become the world trendsetter. The company’s initiative began in 2016, when it announced that SSL certificates will improve SEO results. However, the breakthrough came in 2018, when sites without SSL certificates started receiving negative markings. Google’s decision made the number of certificates installed on websites double in a relatively short time period. Increased user awareness as well as the efforts of Certificate Authority and browser owners are making this number grow constantly, making the Internet ever safer.

Firefox and https only mode
From version 83 onwards, the Firefox browser also will enable its users to use the “HTTPS-Only” mode. Thanks to the new feature, users will be able to successfully avoid unprotected sites and the browser will inform them each time they try to access a site that does not support HTTPS. Thus, alongside Chrome, Firefox is another browser that protects its users on the Internet and actively promotes HTTPS and SSL certificates.

What does the HTTPS-Only Mode mean?
The ability to enable the HTTPS-Only Mode will significantly improve the security of Users, because every attempt to enter an unsecured website will result with a clear message being displayed about the lack of HTTPS support and the consequences of using such a website. On the basis of this message, the User will be able to make an informed decision whether they want to access an unsecured website.

What does this mean for owners of website without HTTPS support?
All websites that do not offer an encrypted connection will be initially blocked and the user will see a deterrent message after entering such a website. Finally, the message will effectively discourage the user from visiting the website again, which will translate into a decrease in traffic.

How to secure your website and enable HTTPS?
One of the most common and available methods are SSL certificates, including SSL Certum Certificates, which help you secure your website with ease. Thanks to the certificates you encrypt and secure the traffic on your website, including transmission of confidential data that customers enter on your website. Thanks to the SSL certificates personal data, logins and passwords, credit card numbers and other data provided by your customers will be secured, which in consequence will increase the customer’s trust in your website.

[1] In 2020, approximately 400 million active websites were identified. https://hostingtribunal.com/blog/how-many-websites/#gref
[2] Data given based on: https://netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx