Not Secure Warning Explained: What It Means for Website Owners

You’ve probably seen a small “Not Secure” warning sitting next to a website’s address in your browser. It might seem harmless, but it can send visitors running. 

That little message tells people your site isn’t safe to use, and in a world where online privacy matters, that’s a big deal. 

It affects trust, hurts your SEO, and can tank your conversions. The good news? You can fix it. And SSL Dragon can help you get it done quickly, correctly, and without the tech headache.

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Table of Contents

1. What Does “Not Secure” Mean?
2. Why Is My Website Showing the “Not Secure” Warning?
3. Dangers of an Insecure Website
4. How to Secure Your Website in 5 Steps?
5. Additional Tips to Keep Your Website Secure

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What Does “Not Secure” Mean?

When your website runs on HTTP (the protocol that loads web pages), any data sent between the visitor’s browser and your server is exposed. Attackers can intercept, read, or even alter it. That’s what makes it an insecure connection.

HTTPS, on the other hand, encrypts that data using an SSL certificate, making it unreadable to hackers and keeping your visitors safe. Hence, the “S” letter – Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.

Modern browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox now flag sites without HTTPS. Instead of the familiar padlock icon, users see a “Not Secure” label when they try to enter a website. Yes, you’ve heard it right. If your site still uses HTTP, visitors will see the off-putting security warning before they even reach your homepage.

This alert is a red flag and a loud signal to your visitors that your site isn’t safe. And when people feel uneasy, they leave. Search engines take note, too, and delist your site from their search results pages.

So, if your site shows the “Not Secure” web browser warning, it’s time to fix it and move to HTTPS with a valid TLS/SSL certificate from a reliable Certification Authority (CA) like DigiCert or Sectigo.

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Why Is My Website Showing the “Not Secure” Warning?

As internet security evolved, so did the way browsers treat unsecure sites. The HTTPS Everywhere campaign played a key role in pushing websites to adopt HTTPS, leading to today’s “Not Secure” warnings for sites still on HTTP.

Seeing a “Not Secure” website warning means your site isn’t protected the way it should be. One of the most common causes is not having an SSL certificate at all. Without it, your site uses HTTP, which doesn’t encrypt data. Anyone snooping on your traffic can see what you send.

Another reason could be an expired SSL certificate. Even if you had one installed, browsers treat your web page as insecure. This triggers the same not secure warning visitors see when there’s no protection at all. To make things worse, SSL certificates now have a lifespan of just one year, so if you manage multiple certs and don’t automate renewals, it’s easy to miss the deadline.

Then there’s mixed content. It happens when your site uses HTTPS, but some files (like images, scripts, or stylesheets) still load over HTTP. Browsers pick up on that and show warnings because not all parts of your page are safe.

Lastly, old or outdated plugins can also create problems. They might pull content or scripts from HTTP sources, which breaks the secure chain. Even if you’ve done everything else right, one bad plugin can throw up a red flag.

Fixing these issues gets you closer to a secure website and gives your visitors the secure connection they expect.

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Dangers of an Insecure Website

Running a website without proper protection doesn’t just trigger a not secure message in the browser; it can cost you real money, traffic, and trust. Here’s what can go wrong:

• Data breach: Without data encryption, attackers can steal passwords, credit card info, and other personal information from site visitors. HTTP sites are easy targets for this kind of attack.
• Customer trust: When people see insecure sites, they leave. A “not secure” warning instantly makes your brand look unprofessional and unsafe.
• Search engine ranking: Google favors secure sites. Running on HTTP instead of HTTPS leaves you behind the competition in search results. Check your site through Google Search Console to see how devastating the lack of a secure connection could be.
• Conversion drops: If visitors don’t feel safe, they won’t buy, sign up, or even stick around. A warning at the top of your browser window is enough to drive them away.

You don’t need a massive breach to feel the impact. Just the warning alone is enough to hurt your reputation.

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How to Secure Your Website in 5 Steps?

You’ve seen the warning. Now it’s time to fix it. Follow these steps to secure your website and build back trust.

1. Buy and Install an SSL Certificate

The first move is simple: install SSL. It tells browsers your site is safe, encrypts data, and, in some browsers, turns that “Not Secure” warning into a padlock icon. Choose an SSL certificate from a trusted provider and install it on your website.

2. Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

After you install the certificate, you must enable HTTPS across your entire site. Set up a HTTPS redirect that always sends visitors and search engines to the secure version of your website. This step is crucial for keeping your rankings intact.

3. Update Internal and External Links

Go through your site and change all internal links from HTTP to HTTPS. If you have external services (like payment gateways or embedded content), ensure they’re secure. Keep everything under the same encryption protocol to avoid warning messages. You can update links manually or via scripts and plugins to save time.

4. Fix Mixed Content

Mixed content happens when your site loads both secure and insecure resources (like images or scripts). Browsers will still flag this, even if you have SSL. Scan your site, find any HTTP elements, and replace them with HTTPS versions. This step directly improves site security and user confidence.

5. Update Your Sitemap and Submit it to Google Search Console

Once everything loads over HTTPS, generate a new XML sitemap with your updated web address. Then log into Google Search Console and submit the new sitemap. This way, Google will index the secure version faster. You’ll also reduce crawl errors and improve how your site appears in search.

If you’re the site owner, these steps give you complete control. If any part feels too technical, check out our detailed guides on how to move to HTTPS.

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Additional Tips to Keep Your Website Secure

Installing SSL and switching to HTTPS is just the beginning. You need a few extra layers of defense to protect your site from attacks and keep your visitors safe. Here’s what you can do to tighten up your site’s security:

• Use a firewall and malware scanner: A web firewall blocks suspicious traffic before it reaches your site. Pair it with a good malware scanner like SiteLock to catch anything that slips through, and these simple website security tools will catch cyber threats early and stop hackers from stealing sensitive data.
• Keep WordPress and plugins updated: Whether your site runs on WordPress or any other CMS, update it regularly. Outdated plugins and themes are a common way attackers get in. Remove anything you’re no longer using. Most attacks target known vulnerabilities. Updates close those gaps.
• Create regular backups: Stuff happens. Even with all the right tools, things can go wrong. Set up automatic backups so you can restore your site if something breaks or you face a security breach. Store copies securely, ideally off site or in the cloud.
• Use strong passwords for admin access: Sites still get hacked because someone guessed the password. Use long, unique passwords for all accounts with admin access. Add two-factor authentication if possible to block unauthorized access attempts.
• Monitor your site’s performance in most web browsers: Stay alert for anything unusual. If your site suddenly shows warnings in Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox, check your address bar and click on the error message to learn more about it. 

No single tool can guarantee perfect protection, but these steps close the most common holes. Combine them with SSL and HTTPS, and you’ll stay ahead of most threats.

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FAQs About Website Security

Should I Worry About the “Not Secure” Warning?

Yes. That security warning means your website uses the old HTTP protocol, which doesn’t encrypt any data (the sensitive information travels in plain text from your users’ browsers to your website’s server). When website visitors see this, many leave instantly, especially if they’re about to enter contact details or payment info. It can hurt both search rankings and credibility.

Is SSL Enough to Secure My Site?

SSL installation is the first and most visible step. It encrypts data and removes the “Not Secure” label. But no, it’s not the only thing you need. Keeping your site safe also means regular updates, secure passwords, and backups. We’ve written the ultimate website security guide. Check it out!

How Long Does it Take to Fix the “Not Secure” Issue?

If you buy an SSL certificate today, you can complete the HTTPS setup in less than an hour, sometimes in minutes, depending on your host. Once it’s active, your site will support HTTPS, and the browser warning will disappear. Already have a valid cert? Scan it via SSL Labs to see what’s causing the issue, then look through our SSL errors guides on how to fix not secure websites in Chrome and other browsers.

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Ready to Make Your Website Safe and Trusted?

There’s no way around it anymore. Every website needs to be secure. If your visitors encounter a “Not Secure” warning, your site delivers the wrong message. It doesn’t matter how great your content or product is, people will bounce when they feel their data isn’t safe.

SSL Dragon makes it easy to turn that around. With a wide range of SSL certificates for any site or budget, cheap pricing, and reliable support when you need it, getting secured is quick and painless. Pick a suitable certificate, install it, and get back to business.