Extending SSL to Google search
Friday, May 21, 2010
(cross-posted from the On-line Security Blog)
Google understands the potential risks of browsing the web on an unsecured network, particularly when information is sent over the wire unencrypted — as it is for most major websites today. That’s why we offered SSL support for Gmail back when we launched the product in 2004. Most other webmail providers don’t provide this feature even today. We’ve since added SSL support for Calendar, Docs, Sites, and several other products. Additionally, early this year we made SSL the default setting for all Gmail users.
As we work to provide more support for SSL across our products, today we’re introducing the ability to search with Google over SSL. We still have some testing to do, but you can try out the new encrypted version of Google search at https://www.google.com and read more about it on the Official Google Blog.
Providing SSL encryption for Google search keywords is a good idea. It is also possible to enhance the security and privacy of many users if Google would encrypt the URLs it displays for its cached web sites.
ReplyDeleteSome users may prefer viewing cached web sites to reduce the chance of repressive governments, ISPs, and other potential eavesdropping entities from tracking their website visits.
http://googcomments.blogspot.com
I agree with myronw about encrypted url for cached websites by default. And I would add an option to show non-uncrypted url to share with other people.
ReplyDeleteTiming 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.
ReplyDelete-- John M. Simpson
Consumer advocate
Consumer Watchdog
Inside Google
I think we can all agree that SSL Encryption searches on Google are a good idea. But how many of these https certificates can be trusted themselves, especially when they can be manipulated through Comodo for example or self-signed. Although this is not Googles issue, it is still a valuable point in their search results.
ReplyDelete