Website Security & SSL Certificates

It seems that hardly a week goes by without another news report about a website security breach that has resulted in unauthorized access to confidential customer data.

A few years ago, Google launched an initiative called “HTTPS Everywhere” to help improve website security on a global scale.

Because all websites are affected by this Google online security initiative, all AdvisorNet clients need to be fully informed about this situation and about what AdvisorNet is doing to meet this challenge.

Google won the browser war

With over 65% market share for their Chrome Internet browsing software, Google enjoys powerful leverage to encourage changes across the entire web according to their own preferred strategies.

The “HTTPS Everywhere” initiative is a Google strategy that essentially forces the use of an SSL certificate to verify website security and hopefully prevent users from becoming victims because of a malicious website.

This initiative creates an extra complexity for website owners.

Any AdvisorNet client not familiar with HTTP and HTTPS is advised to watch the short video on the right side of this page.

For more information about the Google HTTPS Everywhere initiative and how it affects Internet users worldwide, check out the article links below.

Google Plans to Make Chrome’s Non-Secure Site Warnings More Prominent

Chrome will mark all HTTP sites as ‘not secure’ starting in July 2018

Subtle Security Warning Messages

In 2017, Google Chrome began displaying to website visitors a subtle security warning message, for any website address where a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate was not installed.

These security messages are now standard fare for all major Internet browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, & Microsoft Edge).

See image on right for example.

Flashing Security Warnings

Summer 2018, Google rolled out another browser security update.

After this update is implemented, Google Chrome users began seeing a RED “Not secure” warning in the browser address bar like the example shown on the right.

This update causes website visitors to question the security of a website which can in turn lead to a loss of potential revenue when prospective clients decide not to visit a Financial Advisor website.

How does AdvisorNet address this issue?

Because Google has the leverage to push these types of browser changes, AdvisorNet implemented a system to ensure that all AdvisorNet client websites would use SSL certificates.

These system changes were implemented for all AdvisorNet websites – shortly before Google rolled out their SSL browser security changes a few years ago.

Today, all NEW AdvisorNet websites include an SSL certificate (12 month Free Trial) and each website displays a secure confirmation message to all website visitors like the example shown on the right.

A Valid SSL certificate confirms commitment to online security

To make SSL certificates a hassle-free experience for our clients, all AdvisorNet websites include an SSL certificate for a 12-month free trial after a website goes LIVE.

After the end the 12-month Free Trial a small charge ($4.25 per month) is added to each quarterly invoice for the maintenance of the SSL certificate installed on an AdvisorNet client’s website.

Should any AdvisorNet client wish NOT to use an SSL certificate on their website they simply need to notify our office of their desire to have the SSL certificate removed.

Once the SSL certificate is removed, website visitors will see the security warning messages as per the example shown above.

Any AdvisorNet client with questions about the reasons for using an SSL certificate with their website, should Create a Support Ticket via our Control Panel.