Internet Security: SSL Change Impacts Small Business, Nonprofits, Consumers

A major change in Internet security policy is being implemented across the Internet. Small businesses are suffering economic losses. Nonprofits and others are losing followers. Consumers are being confused. Positive effects are happening too. An Internet expert shares what it means and what to do.

Tallahassee, United States – February 13, 2018 /PressCable/ —

In this era of virtual technology, hundreds of millions worldwide rely on Websites for receiving and conveying information. Businesses, nonprofits and other organizations that sponsor their own Websites are being directly affected by a major development in Internet security policy. So are consumers who visit Websites. The purposes of it are positive, and more benefits are expected, but unintended consequences are occurring at the same time. A national expert, The Virtual Solutions Center, is shedding light on the subject.

For years those who own Websites have had the option of purchasing a security tool to protect consumer data. Called an SSL certificate (which stands for Secure Socket Layer), Websites that have SSLs have a layer of protection that other sites don’t.

In simple terms the SSL helps safeguard data that consumers who visit various types of Websites enter onto those sites – such as passwords, credit card numbers, banking information, customer orders, email addresses, comments, requests and other information meant to be kept private. With an SSL the visitor data is encrypted for privacy purposes, blocking hackers from seeing or accessing it.

The policy decision on SSLs was a corporate one made by what is widely regarded as the top Internet company in the world, Google. In the latter part of last year they began marking Websites that collect certain types of sensitive information as “Insecure” if the sites lacked an SSL. Broader policy implementation is happening now by Google and others.

Security designations are being done in several ways, some of them with messaging that can instantly scare consumers away from the Websites, whether or not the sites are actually insecure.

The good news is that private consumer information is being better protected. It’s also, in effect, an effort to create a new Internet culture where both Website sponsors and consumers are responsible for the safety of Internet users and consumer data.

The main problem is that many Websites don’t collect consumer information, yet they too are being flagged with such messages – a major turn-off to would-be visitors and customers, easily resulting in lost visitor traffic, lost confidence and lost business.

What’s more, search engine rankings (where prospective customers, supporters and followers find Websites through Internet searches) can now drop without an SSL. Google’s search engine, for example, is already giving priority to sites that have SSLs. Those without them will be harder to find through a Google search.

Then there are the problems that sometimes come up with installing SSLs – including potentially knocking your Website off of the Internet for hours or days and putting in its place a prominent warning statement that your site is insecure.Plus the fact that SSLs must be purchased.

As a so-called techie type change not on the general consumer’s radar screen, most people aren’t familiar with the SSL policy or what it means to them. Likewise, many businesses and other organizations aren’t yet even aware that all of this is affecting their operations and their success.

TheVirtualSolutionsCenter.com is working to help others avoid headaches and confusion as this new and far-reaching approach is further carried out. They’ve put together a short and easy to follow video with key points on how those affected can deal with this issue in ways that meet their needs. Click here (https://www.thevirtualsolutionscenter.com/blog.html) to access other timely information along with the video at no-charge.

The Virtual Solutions Center specializes in solutions made possible through the “new frontier” of Internet-based communications and commerce – from online events (Webinars, Webcasts, Simulcasts, Virtual Conferences), Social Media, online meetings and remote public speaking to Internet marketing, digital publications, virtual book tours, new era Websites and virtual media relations. Other resources are available through their Website – which has an SSL – here: https://www.thevirtualsolutionscenter.com/

Contact Info:
Name: Karen Younger
Organization: The Virtual Solutions Center
Address: Executive Office Center, Tallahassee, FL 32301, United States

For more information, please visit http://www.thevirtualsolutionscenter.com/home.html

Source: PressCable

Release ID: 299363