Do you remember when certain websites used to display a green address bar in the browser? If you are 90s born, then, of course, you remember. You know that this green meant that the site had an Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate, which gave us a sense of trust. But today, if you look around, that green bar is nowhere to be found. So, what happened? Why did browsers remove the SSL green bar? Let’s understand the reasons behind this change and what it means for website security. If you are a website owner, then this is for you!
Table of Contents
What Was the SSL Green Bar?
As we told you in the intro the green address bar indicated that a website had an EV SSL certificate. EV SSL certificates required strict verification by certificate authorities (CAs) to make sure that the website belonged to a legitimate business. When a website had an EV SSL certificate, major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari displayed the company’s name and a green-colored address bar to make it easy for users to recognize trustworthy websites. This was extremely useful for businesses that needed to gain customer trust, such as banks, e-commerce stores, and government websites. However, over time, the green bar disappeared. Oops! The new generation will never be able to know it.
Why Was the Green Bar Removed?
Many reasons that contributed to the removal of the SSL green bar. Let’s take a closer look at the main reasons why browsers decided to eliminate this feature.
Users Did Not Pay Attention to It
One of the biggest reasons for removing the green bar was that most users did not even notice it. Studies found that the majority of internet users do not check the address bar when visiting a website. Instead, they focus on the website’s design, content, and overall appearance to determine its trustworthiness. Since the green bar wasn’t an effective way to build user confidence, browsers decided it wasn’t necessary.
Cybercriminals Exploited EV SSL Certificates
Originally, the green bar was meant to differentiate legitimate businesses from fraudulent websites. However, cybercriminals found ways to obtain EV SSL certificates and create fake websites that looked trustworthy. For example, a scammer could register a business with a similar name to a well-known company, get an EV SSL certificate, and trick users into thinking they were on a legitimate website. Since the green bar wasn’t foolproof, browsers realized that it didn’t offer the level of security they had hoped for.
HTTPS Became the Standard for All Websites
Years ago, SSL certificates were mainly used by banks and e-commerce sites to protect sensitive information. However, today, HTTPS (which is powered by SSL/TLS certificates) has become a standard for all websites, whether they handle financial transactions or not. Search engines like Google started pushing websites to adopt HTTPS by ranking secure sites higher in search results. As a result, almost every website now has an SSL certificate. Sadly, the green bar wasn’t needed at all after HTTPS. Instead of highlighting only EV SSL certificates, browsers now treat all SSL-secured sites equally.
Browsers Simplified Their User Interface
Modern web browsers prioritize a clean and simple user experience. Over time, browsers have removed unnecessary visual elements, including the green bar – to reduce clutter. Instead, they now display a simple lock icon next to the URL to indicate a secure connection. You must have noticed that, no? This change made it easier for users to understand website security without being overloaded by too many symbols or colors.
What Replaced the Green Bar?
Although the green bar is gone, web browsers still provide security indicators to help users identify secure websites. Here’s what you should look for instead:
Padlock Icon
A small lock symbol next to the website URL indicates that the site is using HTTPS and encrypting data.
Website URL
If you are visiting a well-known website, always double-check the URL to make certain that it matches the official domain.
No “Not Secure” Warning
Browsers now show a “Not Secure” warning for websites that don’t use HTTPS for users to warn them and avoid risk. These changes have made web browsing more intuitive while maintaining security standards.
What Does This Mean for Website Owners?
If you run a website, you may be wondering what this change means for you. Frankly speaking, nothing! This change doesn’t affect website security – it simply changes how security is displayed, which eventually happened a long ago, now, this is just a formal closing of the green bar. But, yeah, you can do these things to keep your site secure & trustworthy:
Use an SSL Certificate
Even though the green bar is gone, an SSL certificate is still essential for encrypting user data and securing your website.
Keep Your SSL Certificate Updated
You need to renew your SSL certificate regularly to avoid security warnings.
Educate Your Users
Let your visitors know that your website is secure by displaying security badges or explaining your security measures in an FAQ section. This way, you can maintain trust with your users and ensure a secure browsing experience.
Need a Secure SSL Certificate?
After reading this, you must be thinking about getting a SSL Certificate – don’t you? And you must only get it from a reliable SSL certificate provider like Lease Packet. Be it a basic SSL for a small website or an advanced certificate for an enterprise-level business, Lease Packet offers high-quality solutions to keep your site secure including SSL certificates.
With Lease Packet, you get:
- Affordable SSL certificate options
- Quick and hassle-free installation
- Reliable customer support
Even though the green bar is gone, your website’s security is more important than ever. Get in touch with Lease Packet today and rest assured of the security of your online presence.
Bottom Line
Everything changes over time so the internet. The SSL green bar was once a useful feature, but changes in user behavior, security risks, and modern browsing standards led to its removal. Today, security indicators like the padlock icon and HTTPS are the new standard. As a website owner, your main focus should be on having a valid SSL certificate and maintaining good security practices. And if you need a trusted SSL certificate provider, Lease Packet is here to help. Connect with Lease Packet for any kind of hosting and website support & security solutions!
FAQs
Why was the SSL green bar removed?
Browsers removed the green bar because most users didn’t notice it, cybercriminals exploited it, and HTTPS became the standard for all websites. Instead, browsers now use a padlock icon to indicate security.
Does my website still need an SSL certificate?
Yes! Even though the green bar is gone, an SSL certificate is essential for encrypting data, improving SEO, and maintaining user trust.
Where can I get a reliable SSL certificate?
You can get a secure and affordable SSL certificate from Lease Packet. Lease Packet offers quick installation, strong encryption, and top-notch support to keep your website safe. Contact Lease Packet today!
