After a period of testing, Google has decided to give priority to websites that use HTTPS encryption by default in its search results. This should mean people are less likely to find themselves visiting sites vulnerable to hacking.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a now popular system used by websites to prevent various types of hacks and attacks. Google’s decision to include the use of HTTPS by websites in its search algorithms should encourage any sites which still haven’t implemented it, to do so.
The ‘weight’ given to HTTPS by Google’s encryption is currently very light, according to the search engine. Other factors such as ‘high quality content’ are given much more sway in search results, but the company says that this may change in the future, once it feels companies have had sufficient time to move to this more secure system.
For Google’s users, this will mean a safer internet when using its search engine.
Source: BBC
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