Google Plans to Label FTP Websites as "Insecure"
In the digital world, Google continues to champion web security, with recent announcements affecting the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). This unencrypted and vulnerable protocol, first implemented in the 1970s, is seeing a significant decline in usage, with FTP accounting for only 0.0026% of top-level navigations.
Weird Droid, a guest writer, has penned a post discussing the fun Android apps geeks can explore, but the focus here is on Google's ongoing mission to improve web security. In December 2017, Google released Chrome 63, a version that marked FTP sites as "Not Secure" due to the decision to display a warning for non-HTTPS sites. This move was part of a broader effort to encourage site owners to migrate from HTTP to HTTPS.
HTTP, unlike FTP, encrypts data and verifies the identity of websites, making it a more secure option. By labeling non-secure protocols like FTP and HTTP as "Not Secure," Google aimed to increase awareness about the potential risks associated with using these protocols and to nudge users and site administrators towards adopting more secure practices.
Fast forward to October 2018, and Google will take another step in its security drive. Google will reject Symantec's SSL Certificates in Chrome 70, effective on Oct. 23, 2018. This rejection is part of Google's ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity of the web and to maintain the security of user data.
As more and more people prefer using smartphones over personal computers, the importance of web security becomes even more apparent. With Android smartphones functioning like mini-computers, the need for secure communication channels is paramount. Common apps like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Email all rely on secure connections to protect user data.
Google suggests that site owners migrate public-facing downloads from FTP to HTTPS to ensure the security of their users' data. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that web security will remain a top priority for tech giants like Google.
In conclusion, Google's push for web security is a significant step towards a safer internet. By labelling non-secure protocols and phasing out vulnerable methods like FTP, Google is leading the charge in ensuring the protection of user data and the integrity of the web.
Data-and-cloud-computing technologies, such as HTTPS, are becoming increasingly important in Google's mission to enhance web security. Google is actively working to phase out outdated and insecure protocols like FTP, promoting secure communication channels that protect user data.
