Recently Google announced that it is extending its SSL offerings to Google search. Google has long provided SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) support for its Gmail and Google Docs products but this is the first time basic search has received SSL support.
Most users recognize SSL connections by the “https” distinction in the address or the “protected” flag that appears in the web browser.These types of protection encrypt and protect the information meaning that the data you are sending out is protected from people or bots that may be monitoring traffic on your network.
While it is common for e-mail or e-commerce sites to use SSL connections, search connections can benefit from being secure too.Now you can get basic SSL protection for your Google searches by visiting https://www.google.com. At the time of this writing, Google is still redirecting all HTTPS requests to the regular Google homepage, but this should change over the course of the day.
Timing of Google’s privacy improving announcements may partially be due to public relations spin, but that in no way negates the importance of this substantial step to help safeguard consumers’ privacy. Google should be congratulated. The question now is when will Microsoft and Yahoo! take this important step.