Google wants websites to use encryption, to protect themselves and users from hackers. Unless they are e-commerce sites, in which case Google doesnt want them to use encryption too widely. <\/p>\n
The dissonance arises from the requirements of Googles Trusted Stores program, an effort by the search giant to show users where they can shop online with confidence. <\/p>\n
Heres the rub: According to emails Google sent one merchant, the Trusted Stores program doesnt play nice with encryption. <\/p>\n
Googles explanation could have come straight from Catch-22. The Trusted Stores badge is designed to be suppressed and not show up on secure pages, Google wrote to Christopher Heitman, co-owner of Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies in New Berlin, Wisc. <\/p>\n
That means, Google continued, There will not be a badge that shows up on every page of the site. However, per the program guidelines, it is required that the badge must be displayed on all pages of your site. <\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, the explanation left Heitman scratching his head. I would think that protecting their users privacy by using encryption would be a valuable part of providing the best user experience, he says. <\/p>\n
Google gave Web encryption a big boost earlier this month when it said encrypted sites would gain points in its search rankings. Encryption can defend against certain types of cyberattacks. <\/p>\n
The Trusted Stores program does require that checkout pages be encrypted, to protect personal information such as home addresses and credit-card numbers. <\/p>\n
But Google told Heitman that for non-sensitive pages such as a sites home page or product listings, the Trusted Stores program is not compatible with the common encryption protocol that Google said it would favor in its search rankings. <\/p>\n
A Google spokesman said as a priority, were working on a solution to display the badge for stores who are moving their entire sites to be encrypted. <\/p>\n
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