Google Chrome Removing HTTPS Secure Indicator

Everyone knows that websites begin with “http,” which stands for “hypertext transfer protocol.” If you pay attention to the address bar next time you go to a secure website (such as this one), you’ll see it reads “https,” with the added “s” standing for “secure.” If you’re using Google Chrome, you’ll also seen green “Secure” text next to the address bar, letting you know that the website you’re currently on is hiding your data from third parties. In September, however, Google Chrome is dropping that secure tag.

What they’re doing instead, which they’ll be implementing in Chrome 70 in October, is displaying red “Not Secure” text on websites that don’t have the proper security implementations. The idea is that users should be able to assume that the web their surfing is safe by default.

Another reason is that HTTPS is becoming so common that the unsecured websites are the outliers, instead of the other way around. Google is still providing the same service, just shining a light on the risky websites rather than the safe ones. Besides, red text will likely be much more noticeable than green.

With the first change happening in September and the second happening in October, there will be a small gap there where Chrome have any tags indicating whether a site is secure or not, so just be sure to watch out for that extra “s” in the address bar. Hopefully the day comes soon when we won’t have to worry about one website being riskier than another.