SSL you have probably heard of it, but do you know it is?

SSL or Secure Sockets Layer is a standard security that establishes encrypted links between your browser and the website. The idea being everything between you and the website is safe and secure from malicious  third parties trying to get your personal details.

Not that long ago, Google made it so websites with SSL installed ranked higher than those that don’t and then in July 2018 Google updated Chrome to tell you if the site didn’t have SSL or not.

Then we got adverts from Barclays like this:

Its pretty much telling you to not buy from anyone without SSL, in a nutshell.

Now, at the time of typing the Pre-Tech main page does not have SSL, simply as the website does not require the user to hand over any information at all. It provides who we are, a list of services and the many ways a customer can contact us. Once a client contacts us, everything is either done face to face, email, Facebook messenger etc all these things have their own security in place to keep the user safe.

But right now, I am looking at the various SSL options out there as simply, browsers now mark me as “unsafe” and it effects my Google rankings.

However, the importance for SSL in eCommerce is highly important as it protects your credit card information as you send it over to the website, which is a good thing.

However, my issue with SSL is how easy it is for someone to obtain it. If you have brought a hosting domain with anyone chances are you have already been emailed about getting SSL. Even if its just for Google rankings and remove the “Not secure” thing off the browsers, The issue here is anyone can get one.

The advert fails to point this out. Doing my own research I can get a bog standard SSL for two years at just over £10. Now if I can do that, so can everyone else.

Basically, if you go to an online shop with SSL and order something, there is no guarantee that the seller will actually honour sending you the goods. Basically, people can use SSL to make themselves look legit, fooling the potential buyer handing their money and never receive the service or goods they wanted to purchase.

Yes SSL is important, but research first. If you come across a website that’s selling something at a to good to be true price, just because it has SSL and the padlock icon, does not mean its legit.

Google is a fantastic search tool, use it to find out more about the business your about to use.

At some point in the very near future the Pre-Tech page will have its SSL to help it up Google and I will advise my website clients accordingly to what best suits them. If you are planning to open an online shop then yes SSL is a must.