What Does It Mean When A Website is Not Secure And What To Do About It

Chances are you have heard about the dangers of an insecure website. You could also be asking yourself, why does my website say not secure, or wondering what it means when a website is not secure. Read on to find out what cybersecurity experts really mean when they say a site is not secure, and how to improve your site’s overall security.

What Does It Mean When a Website Is Not Secure?

So, what does it mean when a website is not secure in today’s world? Most web browsers alert users if they view insecure web pages by displaying a “Not Secure” warning. This indicates the web page is not providing a secure connection to visitors. When your browser connects to a website, it can either use the secure HTTPS or the insecure HTTP protocol. If a site’s URL begins with HTTP, it means the connection is insecure, which triggers the “Not Secure” warning.

What Happens If a Site Isn’t Secure?

When a website says not secure it can have serious consequences, especially if it is an eCommerce site. Insecure websites are vulnerable to cyberthreats, including malware and cyberattacks. If your site falls victim to a cyberattack, it can impact the site’s functioning, prevent visitors from accessing it, or compromise your customers’ personal information. In addition, a cyberattack can damage your company’s reputation and cost you customers. Research shows if your customers’ confidential information gets compromised, 65% of them won’t return to your site. Along with the loss of customers comes a loss of revenue, which can be especially devastating to small businesses.

How to Secure Your Site

There are a few ways to secure a site when a website says not secure. One important way to secure your website is by installing an SSL certificate. This establishes a secure connection for visitors and changes your URL to begin with HTTPS, indicating your site is trustworthy.

In addition, it’s crucial to partner with a reputable cybersecurity provider offering website security solutions. These include automated malware scanning and removal, vulnerability patching to address weaknesses in your site, and a web application firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic.

As we wrap up Cybersecurity Awareness month, remember to secure your site, and understand how to identify any potential vulnerabilities it may have. If you're currently dealing with a hacked website, learn about SiteLock's website hack repair services for immediate help.