Google Warns: Secure Your Site By October or Else…

Home

What’s New

Start Here

Contact

2 Create a Website Blog

Google Warns: Secure Your Site By October or Else…

Filed Under: New

62 Comments

If you don’t want the Chrome browser scaring your visitors away, here’s what you need to know…

Pages with Forms: All pages containing form fields must start with https:// instead of http://. This encrypts submitted data.
Google Chrome Warning: Starting October 2017, Google Chrome users will see a "NOT SECURE" message on sites without encryption. This includes email opt-in forms.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Let me start by saying this: if technical details make you nervous, reach out to your host for assistance. They may have additional suggestions. I’ll offer guidance, but remember, the best approach depends on your hosting setup.

Did You Receive This Email?

If you have a Google Webmaster account and your site isn’t secure yet, you might have received an email listing pages that will display a "NOT SECURE" warning in October.

How to Get Free Encryption

Host Support: Many hosting plans offer free AutoSSL. Check with your host if they provide this service.
Installation: It took just 3 minutes for my host to set up AutoSSL on my server. I then installed the Real Simple SSL WordPress plugin to redirect all pages from http:// to https.
Alternative: Manually set up redirects using a .htaccess file, or explore other free options like Let’s Encrypt (supported by certain hosts).

If Your Host Doesn’t Have AutoSSL Yet…

Don’t worry; you likely don’t need to switch hosts. Free alternatives exist, such as Let’s Encrypt, which provides a manual installation option.

Why Doesn’t Everyone Support Let’s Encrypt?

Hosting companies prefer you buy an SSL certificate for financial reasons. However, AutoSSL and Let’s Encrypt are gaining wider support among providers.

Free AutoSSL vs. Paid SSL Certificate

I won’t delve into the technical differences here, but both options offer security, and AutoSSL is a cost-effective solution for many site owners.