HTTPS and Security: Why Google Trusts Secure Sites More

Imagine you are shopping at a store. You walk up to the counter, ready to pay.

But right before you hand over your credit card, a security guard steps in front of you and shouts: "WARNING! THIS STORE IS NOT SAFE! THIEVES MIGHT BE WATCHING!"

Would you still hand over your card? Of course not. You would run out the door.

This is exactly what Google does to your website if you don't have security set up correctly.

If you don't have that little "Padlock" icon next to your website name, Google Chrome shows a warning that says "Not Secure." To a customer, that is terrifying. To a business owner, that is a disaster.

Let's explain what is actually happening behind the scenes, using plain English (no scary tech jargon).

The Postcard vs. The Sealed Envelope

When someone visits your website, information travels from their computer to your server. This information could be anything: their name, their email, or their credit card number.

There are two ways this information can travel:

1. HTTP (The Postcard)

This is the old, insecure way. Sending data via HTTP is like writing your credit card number on the back of a postcard and mailing it.

Anyone who handles that postcard along the way—the mailman, the sorter, the truck driver—can flip it over and read your number. It is completely open.

2. HTTPS (The Sealed Envelope)

This is the secure way. The "S" stands for "Secure."

Sending data via HTTPS is like putting that postcard inside a thick, steel envelope with a combination lock. Even if someone steals the envelope, they can't open it. Only the person with the key (your server) can read what's inside.

Google is the Bouncer

Google wants to keep its users safe. They have decided that the internet is a dangerous place, and they are the bouncers.

If your website uses the "Postcard" method (HTTP), Google warns users before they enter. They don't want to be responsible if someone's data gets stolen.

If your website uses the "Sealed Envelope" method (HTTPS), Google gives you the Padlock Icon. This tells the user: "It is safe to enter. We checked the ID."

How Does This Affect SEO Rankings?

Google has officially stated that HTTPS is a ranking signal.

Think of it as a tie-breaker.

Imagine two websites are competing for the #1 spot on Google.

• Website A: Great content, fast speed, but NOT secure.
• Website B: Great content, fast speed, and IS secure.

Google will pick Website B every single time. Why would they send their users to a dangerous site when a safe one is available?

The Solution: What is an SSL Certificate?

So, how do you get the steel envelope?

You need something called an SSL Certificate. (SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, but you don't need to remember that).

Think of an SSL Certificate as a Digital ID Card.

1. You buy the certificate (or get a free one).
2. You install it on your website server.
3. A third-party company verifies that you are who you say you are.
4. They give you the "key" to lock the envelopes.

Once this is installed, your website address changes from http:// to https://.

Is Your Site Safe? How to Check.

Checking is easy.

1. Open your website in Chrome or Safari.
2. Look at the very top, where the URL is.
3. Do you see a lock icon? Or do you see "Not Secure"?

If you see the lock, you are good. If you see the warning, you have an emergency. You are leaking trust every second that warning is up.

Conclusion: Safety First, Sales Second

You wouldn't open a physical store without a lock on the front door. You shouldn't run a digital business without a lock on your data.

HTTPS is no longer an "optional feature" for big banks. It is a mandatory requirement for every blog, bakery, and business online. It protects your customers, it pleases Google, and it protects your revenue.