HTTP vs HTTPS: How Security Affects Your SEO

HTTP and HTTPS; Why can one letter make a big difference for your website? This is especially true when it comes to being friends with Google.

Imagine HTTP is like sending a postcard — anyone can read it if they get their hands on it. HTTPS, on the other hand, is like sending a letter in a locked safe.

Much safer, right? Google prefers these “locked safes” because they keep everyone’s info secure.

So, if your website uses HTTPS, Google gives it a thumbs up, which can help more people find your site. It’s a win-win: you get more visitors, and they get a safer browsing experience.

Let’s get into how this security tweak can boost your website’s SEO and keep everyone happy.

What is HTTP?

Image credits: Youtube

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. It’s the foundation of how data is shared on the web, basically the rules that allow your web browser and a website’s server to communicate.

When you visit a website, HTTP acts like a messenger that delivers your request to the website’s server and then brings the website’s data back to you.

Think of it as the language that your browser and the website speak to understand each other.

However, it’s important to note that HTTP is not secure by itself, which means any data sent between your browser and the website can potentially be seen or intercepted by others.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure.

It’s like the secure version of HTTP, which means it does pretty much the same job—helping your browser talk to websites—but with a twist: it adds a layer of security.

This security is like a protective envelope around the information your browser and a website share, keeping it safe from eavesdroppers.

It uses encryption to make sure that any data transferred between you and the website can only be read by the right recipient.

This is super important for keeping your personal information safe, especially when you’re shopping online or logging into websites.

So, whenever you see that little padlock icon next to a website’s address in your browser, it means you’re using HTTPS, and your info is being kept safe.

What is the Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS?

Aspect	HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)	HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure)
Security	Less secure as it doesn’t encrypt data.	More secure due to the use of SSL/TLS encryption to protect data. Adds a secure layer for better encryption of information.
Port	Uses port 80 by default.	Uses port 443 by default, indicating a separate mode of communication dedicated to encrypted data transfer.
Performance	Slightly faster due to no encryption overhead.	Slightly slower due to encryption and decryption processes, though this provides enhanced security.
Encryption	No encryption; data is sent in plain text.	Data is encrypted, securing it from eavesdroppers. Uses SSL/TLS for data transmission.
Use Case	Suitable for websites where security is not a critical concern.	HTTPS is recommended for all websites, especially those handling sensitive data. It follows the same protocols as HTTP but with an additional layer of security.
URL Prefix	URL begins with http://.	URL begins with https://. The “S” signifies the added security layer.
Data Protection	Vulnerable to man-in-the-middle and eavesdropping attacks.	Protects against such attacks, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality. It’s HTTP with an extra layer of security.
Trust and Credibility	This may result in warnings in modern browsers, reducing trust.	Enhances trust and credibility, often accompanied by a padlock icon in the browser. The secure version is preferred for better encryption and trust.
SEO Impact	Considered less favorable by search engines.	Google and other search engines favor HTTPS, potentially improving SEO rankings due to its secure nature.
Certification	No certificates are required.	Requires an SSL/TLS certificate to be installed on the server, symbolizing the secure connection.
Protocol Similarity	The basic protocol for transmitting data over the web.	Pursues the same protocols as HTTP for data transmission but includes a secure layer (“S”) for enhanced security through SSL.

About SSL: The Role Of SSL!

It is common for people to mistake HTTPS and SSL as interchangeable terms, but they are in fact distinct. HTTPS is a secure feature that utilizes SSL to transmit data.

Both of them have different technicalities and can be rather complicated. Essentially, HTTPS works in tandem with SSL certificates (Secure Sockets Layer) to transfer data and enable uninterrupted communication. This is accomplished in three ways, as outlined below:

1. Encryption of data: Transferred information and data are encrypted to enhance security.

2. Data integrity: Data cannot be distorted or corrupted during the transmission phase.

3. Authentication: Users are authenticated to communicate with the website in the correct manner.

Furthermore, EV SSL certificates are authenticated for data transmission and information exchange.

The EV SSL certificate offers extended security with a green padlock in the URL’s address bar. This leads to a better understanding of the benefits of implementing HTTPS as a ranking factor for SEO.

Consider Switching to HTTPS: Improve Your Website’s SEO Rankings

Now that we have learned about the importance of installing HTTPS and SSL certificates on a website, it is time to follow Google’s recommendations and switch to HTTPS.

This is an easy, more secure, and smart decision to make, especially for those who are into e-commerce integration.

This step will certainly benefit the security of your website and will put your customers in a secure mode to make easy-flowing transactions anywhere. Additionally, there are some SEO benefits to consider:

Improved Rankings: The first and foremost advantage of getting HTTPS for your website is that it may increase your ranking. Most SEO experts advise it as an integral part of an overall SEO strategy and planning. Over time, as Google’s search algorithms continue to prioritize a more secure web, we may see an even greater impact of HTTPS on search rankings.

Referral Data: If you are exploring and analyzing Google Analytics for your HTTP website, then traffic passing through referral sources can show as “direct” traffic. However, through HTTPS, the security of the referring domain is sealed and secured. Hence, HTTPS is a wise decision.

Privacy and Security: HTTPS adds augmented security to your website in numerous ways, including authentication that the website is the one server to which it is supposed to be talking. It makes your website more secure for your users and visitors. It encrypts all communication, including URLs, and safeguards things like browsing history and credit card numbers. It also prevents meddling by third parties.

Are There Any Concerns That Need To Be Considered While Switching To HTTPS?

You should not really worry about switching from HTTP to HTTPS in terms of SEO, as Google has been telling webmasters that it is very secure.

However, one must go through some notions to make certain your traffic doesn’t suffer.

• You should check that the site redirected to HTTPS is crawled by Google. PS. Make sure that robot.txt file is blocking HTTPS. When you redirect from HTTP to HTTPS, Google will count it “site move” and your website traffic will be affected.
• Follow Google’s tips and best practices while switching to HTTPS.
• Settle on kind of SSL certificate you need: single, multi-domain, or wildcard certificate.
• Use 2048-bit key certificates and relative URLs for resources.
• Make sure to use protocol-relative URLs for all other domains.
• Don’t block your HTTPS website from crawling and using robots.txt.
• Use Google’s updated Webmaster Tools to better handle HTTPS sites.
• Make sure to track your HTTP to HTTPS migration very cautiously in your analytics software.
• Allow indexing of all pages by search engines wherever possible.
• Shun the no-index robots meta tag.
• Additionally, it’s recommend having a good read on a condensed introduction to HTTP/HTTPS and also some advice and tips on switching over to SSL/HTTPS.

So what’s your takeaway?

I hope that the article justifies the point of switching to HTTPS with installing SSL certificate to gain better SEO rankings for your website. If we look over SSL certificate types, it is myth that a single type of SSL is enough for all websites.

You can select from different types of SSL like domain level certificate, business validation certificate, Code signing certificate, EV SSL certificate. Overall, when we look at the future holistically consider what Google is likely to do with HTTPS, therefore, we recommend switching over to HTTPS, ASAP, to keep pace with Google.