Rex was asking the other day why we get "site insecure" message when logging in. I explained that it's all about HTTPS, and that we don't need HTTPS security scheme because we are not engaging in e-commerce. Unfortunately, all non-HTTPS site are labeld "not secured".
And that scares folks.HTTPS doesn't protect sites like ours from hackers. Its main purpose is to protect Credit Cards, Banking, Social Security numbers, doing taxes online, etc. We do none of that so we are really not concerned.
But Google has implemented a game changer. It has set search priority to the lowest possible for sites that have not implemented HTTPS. In other words, Google is now ignoring HTTP sites. This got lots of non-commercial sites upset because we are all forced to implemented HTTPS for Google not to ignore us.
Price range for $6/month to as high as $1600 a month. And if a site has subdomains like ours, the site has to pay for each of the subdomains too.
We do have subdomains here where I do most of the testings. No way I pay all that money for all that. Yesterday I called Godaddy, our web host, and they offered me a discount, a deal to add HTTPS here for at least $200 a year. Hmmm nope. I asked if it was OK to install a third party SSL. Yeah, they said, but I will have to install and manage the third party SSL myself. In other words, you are on your own, dear.
Fine. So I searched the web for cheaper SSL.
Well, the web is a great place. There are web freedom fighters who hate the idea that anyone should pay for SSL. I didn't know anything about them. There are quite a few. They will create free SSL certificate for anyone who can install it on his own. Here is one of them, the one I used, if anyone needs an SSL for his site: https://zerossl.com/
So, guess what? Forget Godaddy. I got a free certificate for the domain and all the subdomains and installed it. Whole process took about 1 hour. Done.
Now our address is https://tennisgamers.com. Fantastic !!!!!!!!!
Hopefully Google won't ignore us anymore. You'll see a message about the site not fully https because some pictures are not protected. lol lol. Who cares?
Maybe one day I'll tumble across some scripts or some setting that deals with the few renegade pictures
... but for now, it's really not a priority. We switched to HTTPS... Because Google forced us, not because we are gaining any special protection. We don't handle credit cards and bank accounts here. And even if you click on an Ad to purchase something, the link will take you to a secure site to handle your transaction. TennisGamer doesn't sell anything to its members.Thanks.
