Google’s take on non SSL sites and Let’s encrypt with Free SSL

The World Wide Web (www), or internet, connects all users and websites in an integrated network where information is shared 24×7 all 365 days of the year.
Some of this shared or available information may be ordinary and mundane but, on the other hand, some can be very sensitive and private which would need to be ‘for your eyes only’ when sent from one to another.
Such information, whether ordinary or private would be routed through the user’s server and, if these servers are not secured, they might be subjected to eavesdropping by interested third parties.
To ensure that this does not happen, you can secure your website and ensure that whatever information is in it that you would like to share remains private and confidential.

Google advice on security

Google is the largest search engine provider is now encouraging all websites on their platform to ensure that they are secured to prevent any security breaches.
This advice is for all websites, not just those sharing sensitive information like sending out payments etc. This is so that the complete Google search engine platform is closely held together without any eavesdropping from any party.
Google shames all websites not secured with the SSL certificate by showing connecting users that they are doing so at their own risk.
When a website is opened, if it displays an ‘http’ you can know immediately that the website is not secured. However, if it is tagged with an ‘https’, then you can be relieved that whatever information shared between your website and that would be on a very secure  SSL platform.
Most of the websites on Google’s search engine platform are being used spuriously for Search Engine Optimization (SEO); there is a ‘no holds barred’ battle going on out there to be on the first page of the search engine by competitive websites.
SEO has become a very strong and effective tool for search engines, especially that of Google with all websites worth their pinch of salt trying to get the better of their competition.

The importance of search engine optimization (SEO)

The SSL certificate is the weapon which Google employs when websites clamor for SEO rankings; it is the ultimate if you are on a search engine and need to be noticed first and fast.
Google is dangling the proverbial carrot by insisting that an SSL Certificate and the ‘https’ tag is a prerequisite for a website to enjoy high rankings on their search engines; this is literally informing all users that only a secure website will be noticed on Google’s search engines.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

This security platform which Google requires its search engine users to protect themselves with is termed Secure Sockets Layer or SSL; a universal certification that has the blessings of the search engine provider.
The SSL application is offered free by some and at a fee from others. If you are using a nonsensitive website, it would be prudent for you to use a free application, however, if you share sensitive information like credit cards and other such information between websites, then it is imperative that you obtain a very secure application for which you would have to pay.
Whatever the case may be, Google has been pushing for this for quite some time and many websites have stepped forward to offer free SSL in the face of others doing it for a fee.
The SSL certificate is the standard bearer for all websites and is enforced by Google to ensure that their search engines are secured universally with no opportunity for hackers or other cybercriminals to take advantage of any weaknesses in websites on their platform.

Free SSL certificate from ‘Let’s Encrypt’

Let’s Encrypt are SSL certificate providers that offer their services for free for any website; they have proudly announced recently that they have done this for a staggering 100,000,000 websites around the world.
Their services are eagerly acquired and, being a free application, it has given the impetus to Google to recognize them as a secure platform and is under their auspices.
The recognition bestowed on Let’s Encrypt is very impressive indeed and has come from major names such as Google Chrome, FaceBook, Cisco, Akamai, Iden Trust, Ford Foundation, and many others.
Any website wanting to come clean with Google, the largest search engine provider, while also to get their act together in the SEO war will need the SSL certification.
It is very easy to get your website secured with the SSL certificate offered by Let’s Encrypt; it would take you just a few minutes to secure your information and keep your secrets for yourself without any unauthorized and unscrupulous cyber criminals peeping over your shoulder, every time you send out anything, however trivial that thing may be.
The process is fully automated adding to its popularity and, with Google pushing vigorously, it would be prudent on your part to ensure that you have the SSL certification with the ‘https’ tag displayed alongside your website domain as well as the ‘green closed Padlock’ which indicates to all of your users that you are safe and secured.
If you are not safe and secured then you would have a ‘red open padlock’ and only ‘http’ displayed without the ’s’ confirming to all users that you have an unsecured website and to beware of dealing with you.
This, as is clear, is not something you would want to happen; using SSL certification prevents users from becoming apprehensive of their dealings with you.
Not using SSL certification would also be detrimental to your attempts to be on the SEO ranking wagon as Google will be tightening the screws and forcing everyone on their search engines to align with them so that they could offer a universally secured connection to all their loyal users.
Dont forget to check out hand-picked guides;

• How to create an SSL Certificate on Apache for CentOS 6
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