Google search will reward encrypted sites

In an effort to make the Internet a safer place, Google will prioritize secure websites in search results, giving a boost to those URLs with an “https” — “s” as in “secure” — over “http.”

According to Mashable, 56 percent of websites are encrypted — a topic that took center stage during April’s Heartbleed security flaw revelation.

In a blog post Wednesday, Google said that “over the past few months we’ve been running tests taking into account whether sites use secure, encrypted connections as a signal in our search ranking algorithms. We’ve seen positive results, so we’re starting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal.”

By rewarding such encrypted sites, Google is essentially encouraging organizations with non-encrypted websites to switch to encryption. The tech company plans to release a set of guidelines helping organizations make that transition.