In a move that would impact where web hosts’ websites appear in Google SERPs, the corporation might change its algorithm to reward encrypted websites with higher ranking. The suggestion was made by
Matt Cutts – a Google executive who is recognized as being the corporation’s official voice on all matters related to SEO and changes that might occur at Google. However, it would appear changes are not imminent.
The news comes at a time when data security is a major topic. In the United States the surveillance activities of the country’s National Security Agency, or NSA, have been brought to light via leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who suggested widespread surveillance of major websites. He made public classified material to British newspaper “The Guardian” and American newspaper “The Washington Post” which covered NSA Internet surveillance programs (with codenames like PRISM, MUSCULAR, XKeyscore and Tempora) which stored data at the NSA’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. It also comes against a backdrop of the Heartbleed bug that came to light recently.
Encrypted websites have a layer of security that makes it more difficult for hackers and online threats to penetrate. If Google does indeed decide to favour encrypted sites, and encryption enters Google’s best practices, there would be a substantial move in that direction as developers and SEO specialists adopt the policy in a bid to get on Google’s first page.
Do you expect Google to add encryption to its best practices? Let us know your views. Add your comments below.
