Why Your Website Shows 'HTTPS Not Secure'? And How to Fix It

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You must have interfaced with “HTTPS Not Secure” error when opening a website. It can be frightening for you and close the website right away. Google did one big thing years ago and that’s marking all websites that don't use HTTPS as "not secure." Google did it to make Chrome safer than ever. HTTPS Not Secure acts as a warning to warn visitors to be more careful when visiting this website. Now imagine you own a website and your visitors see this error. What happens? In this situation, you may lose many visitors and clicks, resulting in lower rankings on Google. But don’t worry, because we’re going to tell you how to fix this error in easy steps and bring your visitors back to your website!

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a safer version of HTTP, the standard protocol for sending and receiving data over the Internet. HTTPS safeguards your personal data and ensures the security of your internet communications. As a result, you’ll have a safer and more reliable online experience. HTTPS is very important because of:

• Data encryption: HTTPS encrypts all data sent between your device and the website, making it harder for hackers to obtain or comprehend.
• Authentication: HTTPS confirms the identity of the website you're connecting to, guaranteeing you're dealing with an authentic website rather than a dangerous imposter.
• Data Integrity: HTTPS prevents data from being tampered with during transmission, ensuring that everything you send and receive is accurate.

What causes the "HTTPS Not Secure" message in Chrome?

Basically, HTTPS not secure Chrome indicates that the website lacks robust security to protect the user's information. Google says, "Whoa, that's not cool!" and warns you about it! But why does this happen? So, it happens when a website does not have an SSL certificate. SSL certificates are similar to digital passports in that they authenticate the website's validity and protect your data. It encrypts the connection between the website and the user to ensure data security. If you want to protect your visitors' information and prevent those nasty warnings, ensure your website has an SSL certificate. It's a tiny step for you, but it significantly impacts your website's security. If you don’t know how to do that, jump to the next part.

How to Fix HTTPS Not Secure Chrome Message?

In the last section, I mentioned that the easiest way to fix HTTPS not secure messages in Chrome is to install an SSL certificate. Now, I tell you how to do it in 4 easy steps:

Step 1: Buy an SSL Certificate

How to get an SSL certificate? It’s as easy as pie! To keep your website safe and sound, check out MonoVM’s SSL certificate. We try to keep our prices affordable and our certificates reliable. We have SSL certificates for all websites, so no matter whether you own a small website or a big one. Also, we have 24/7 customer support so if you have any problems, they help you to solve them as fast as possible. Once you've received the SSL certificate, install it on your website, and your visitors will be relieved to know that their information is secure. No more "HTTPS not secure" warnings.

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Step 2: Install the Certificate via Your Web Host

Now that you purchased the SSL certificate, you need to install it via your web host. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log into your web hosting control panel: This is usually accessible through your web hosting provider's website.
2. Find the SSL section: Look for a section labeled "SSL/TLS Certificates" or something similar.
3. Click "Install SSL Certificate": This option will usually be found within the SSL section.
4. Upload your certificate: You'll need to upload the certificate file you purchased. This might involve clicking a "Choose File" button and selecting the certificate from your computer.
5. Link the certificate to your domain: Specify the domain name you want to secure with the SSL certificate.
6. Paste certificate details: You might need to copy and paste the certificate's private key and intermediate certificate (if provided) into designated fields.
7. Click "Install": Once you've entered all the necessary information, click the "Install" or "Submit" button.
8. Wait for activation: The certificate should activate within a few hours. However, it might take some time before it's visible to users.

Step 3: Update Your WordPress URL

Now you’ve activated the SSL certificate but your visitors may still encounter the HTTPS not secure chrome message. It can happen when your WordPress site is still set to the old HTTP address. Do the following easy steps to fix this:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Go to "Settings,"
3. Under the "General" tab, find the WordPress and site address fields.
4. Add an "S" to HTTP in both URLs to make it HTTPS
5. Save your changes

Step 4: Set Up a 301 Redirect for the Whole Site

So, you've updated your website to HTTPS. Great job! Now we need to ensure that if someone attempts to visit your old website address (the one without the "s"), they are automatically directed to the new, secure address.
How do we do this? It's known as a 301 redirect. Consider it a signpost that directs people in the proper direction. To set this up, you can use a program called FileZilla. It's like a digital technician who can fix the old address and redirect folks to the new one.

How to Enable Non-Secure Sites in Chrome?

Well, we don’t recommend doing this, as it is a risky action. There are many websites that don’t use HTTPS and some of them can be harmful. With all that, if you still insist on not seeing Https not secure Chromebook messages, you can open a new Chrome window and type `chrome://flags` in the address bar. Then, search for “secure” and find the option to disable the warning message.

There’s another thing that you can do and that’s ignoring this error! When you see this error while opening a website, you have these 2 options:

1. Advanced: Choosing this means ignoring the error! In this case, you can continue to the site at your own risk. Just keep in mind that non-secure sites are more likely to be hacked, therefore entering important information, such as credit card information, on these sites is not recommended.
2. Back to safety: This option takes you away from the site to avoid any risks.

Secure Your Connection in Chrome

It’s easier than you think! If you want to ensure the security of your connections in Chrome, you need to enable the "Always Use Secure Connections" option:

1. Open a new tab, click the three dots in the top-right corner, and go to “Settings”.
2. Then, select “Privacy and Security” and scroll to advanced settings.
3. Chrome will now notify you if you attempt to access an unsafe website.

Is HTTPS a Guarantee of Safety for Websites?

To be honest, HTTPS is like fastening the seat belt! It makes us safer but doesn’t guarantee that we can be safe from any dangers. HTTPS encrypts data transmitted between a website and its visitors, protecting this information from prying eyes. However, the general safety of the site is not assured. Hackers can still compromise your data with different methods, including illegal downloads that secretly install malware on your device.

HTTPS is absolutely a good feature for your website because it protects data transmissions from third parties. However, it does not make the site completely safe, thus remaining attentive is still necessary. 

Is HTTPS Important for SEO?

Absolutely YES! Google wants websites to be secure, and they're upset when they encounter sites that don't use HTTPS. So, when Google notices that a website lacks HTTPS, it adds a scary "Not secure" label to that website in search results, which is terrible news for your website's visitors and SEO. Google prefers HTTPS-enabled websites, which might help your site rank higher in search results. If you want your website to be secure and appear well in search results, moving to HTTPS is a no-brainer.

Final Words

Now, you can see how important is HTTPS not secure Chrome message. To keep your visitors’ information safe and secure, as well as appearing in search results, you need to buy an SSL certificate and redirect HTTP to HTTPS. In this way, you ensure you don’t lose any visitors and don’t lose your website’s traffic because Google won’t get mad at you. Just follow the tips and steps mentioned in this blog post and enjoy growing your website.