Rick’s a baker. He’s got a business: Rick’s Better Bakery. And he’s got a website. But Rick’s got a blazing problem—within the last few months, visitors to his site have been hit with a flaming warning: “This website isn’t secure.” And guess what? His online orders? Going down faster than a burnt soufflé.
“What the heck?” says Rick. “What about my bakery isn’t secure? It’s not like we’re out here stealing credit card numbers!”
What Rick doesn’t know is that Google is on a mission to make the web a safer place. They’re cracking down on sites without SSL encryption. And because Rick went the cheap route with his website, he’s caught without it.
So what’s SSL? And HTTPS? And how do you stop your website from crashing and burning like Rick’s? Let’s fire up the grill and break it down.
Backstory time: How HTTP/HTTPS became the sheriff in town
When the internet was young, it was the Wild West. No rules. Chaos everywhere. A hacker could have set up shop pretending to be Rick’s bakery, and no one would’ve been able to tell the difference—or stop them.
Back then, websites ran on HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). It got the job done, but it was as transparent as glass. If someone intercepted your connection, they could see everything—every page you visited, every piece of info you sent. Yikes.
Enter HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), riding in like a knight in shining armor. It uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption, making your data look like gibberish to anyone snooping around. That’s why it’s so dang important.
But forget the fancy terms. What matters is this: without HTTPS, Rick’s customers’ credit card numbers might as well be on a billboard, and Google’s stamped his site with a giant “Not Secure” warning.
Oh, and bonus: HTTPS also comes with a security certificate that proves a website is legit—so your customers know they aren’t getting duped.
What can Rick do to fix this mess?
Rick’s got two options:
- Do it himself. Hey, if he’s feeling brave enough to dive into the world of SSL, we’ve got a whole guide to help him DIY his way out of this disaster.
- Call in the pros. If Rick’s too busy whipping up cinnamon rolls to mess with website code, he can just reach out to a web developer (hey Rick, ever heard of Pyromaniac Digital? We specialize in this stuff). We’ll help him move his site to a secure platform like Squarespace, Shopify, or Webflow—all of which come with SSL built in. In no time, he’ll have a slick, secure website that’s a breeze to manage and doesn’t scare customers away with security warnings.
Is Google giving you a “Not Secure” warning?
Consider this your wake-up call! Secure your site now before one of your customers gets torched by a security breach.
The Bulletproof Guide to Securing Your Website
Step 1: Is your website secure?
Easy test: go to your site, look at the URL. Does it start with “https”? Congrats, you’re good! If it just says “http,” welcome to the danger zone. Time to take action.
Step 2: Implement these three essential moves
- Get your SSL certificateIf you’re feeling hands-on, Let’s Encrypt has tutorials to help you get your SSL certificate sorted. If not? Get help from a pro.
- Keep your CMS updatedWhether you’re on WordPress, Squarespace, or Shopify, your CMS needs regular updates. In WordPress, just check your “updates” tab and stay on top of things. Old software is a hacker’s dream come true. Keep it fresh, or risk a digital firestorm.
- Back up your site regularlyIf something does slip through, you need a backup plan. Literally. Set up an automated backup system so if your site gets hacked, you can restore it faster than you can say “404 error.” Check with your hosting provider for the best way to handle this.
Step 3: Run through this security checklist regularly
- SSL on every page: Make sure every single page on your website has HTTPS/SSL. If it doesn’t, your site is going to start bleeding traffic and sales like nobody’s business.
- Software/plugins up-to-date: Keep everything updated. It’s simple—outdated software is like leaving your front door wide open.
- Backups: Have you set up automated backups? No? Do it yesterday. If you get hacked, it’s the difference between a quick recovery or a disaster.
- Contingency plan: What’s your game plan if things go sideways? Make sure you’ve got one, because winging it isn’t gonna cut it when your website goes down in flames.
Get your website secured before Google turns your traffic into toast. Talk with one of our experts today!
