Google Will Soon Let You Know By Default When Websites Are Unencrypted
http://it.slashdot.org/story/16/01/29/2015215/google-will-soon-let-you-know-by-default-when-websites-are-unencrypted?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29
"Many have argued that the web is predominantly
unencrypted, so they're displaying a persistent and ambiguous
error message for a large portion of the Internet. Since
unencrypted content is not an error state, the Chrome team
should use alternate iconography, because the default error
message this will just confuse average people, and it will
encourage error blindness."
- - -
I'm forced to agree with this Slashdot poster. The use of a red X in
this context will confuse users about perfectly correct and properly
working websites, particularly legacy sites that carry no practical
risks and contain widely referenced information, but that cannot be
upgraded to SSL in a practical manner. The most likely outcome will be
users learning to ignore such warnings completely because they will be
so widely present and widely viewed as "crying wolf." It is also likely
that many sites will push back against Google on this by posting
explicit messages on their pages explaining to users that Google is
playing Mommy and that nothing is wrong with their sites. It is
perfectly acceptable and reasonable for Google to encourage the use of
SSL. However, the approach being discussed is not helpful and is likely
to even be counterproductive.
REFERENCE: "When Google Thinks They're Your Mommy" -
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001107.html
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein ([email protected]): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
I have consulted to Google, but I am not currently
doing so -- my opinions expressed here are mine alone.
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