Chrome starts warning users about insecure login pages

Google has released Chrome 56, the first version to warn users about login pages that do not use https. The search giant had already announced that function a few months ago and now the browser is getting the update that makes it possible.

The warning consists of the text ‘Not secure’ with an information icon next to the URL bar. The message only appears on login pages and not on regular internet pages without a certificate.

Google said in September that it would activate the feature in Chrome 56 starting this month. This should prevent people from entering their details and sending them via an unsecured connection, which makes it easier for them to become victims of phishing or man-in-the-middle attacks.

Google previously had the plan to display a non-https page as unsafe by means of a lock with a large red cross through it. Since Google started its crusade against HTTP connections, a milestone is said to have been achieved last summer. More than half of all sites that load via the desktop version of Chrome are said to be served via an https connection. Firefox made a similar update this week.