Amid the on-going tussle between Apple and the FBI over iPhones' encryption, Google has announced that traffic and searches conducted in its servers are at least 77 percent secure. What this means is that users can search and access information in encrypted queries over the web using Google's services without fear of governmental surveillance or hacker exploitation that aims to steal personal data.
The announcement is part of the company's transparency report, which offers a real-time data graph that tracks encrypted connections using Google's servers. The ultimate goal is for Google to achieve 100 percent encryption across all its platforms. Presently, only YouTube is not included in the encryption initiative. Google's core products are covered, including Advertising, Google Drive, Finance, Gmail, Maps and News.
Encrypted information is made possible through the use of the HTTPS technology. It is a browser or app mechanism introduced in 2014 that lets users securely connect with websites through the so-called SSL or TLS encryption certificates. "These web connections protect against eavesdroppers, man-in-the-middle attacks, and hijackers who attempt to spoof a trusted website," Google said in the report. "In other words, it thwarts interception of your information and ensures the integrity of information that you send and receive."
Traffic encryption has also been implemented in other countries. Mexico, for instance, has even higher percentage of encryption rate, posting 86 percent of encrypted requests. Google notes that the variations in encryption rates differ according to the devices used to carry out web access and the existence of software that can support the TLS connections. The company has cited that 100 percent implementation is specifically hindered by: older hardware and/or software that doesn't support modern encryption technologies; governments and organizations that might block or otherwise degrade HTTPS traffic; and organizations that might not have the desire or technical resources to implement HTTPS.
Google is currently aggressively pushing other websites to adopt HTTPS and its preferred encryption technologies. It is using its search service to force these third-party players to comply. Now, the policy is that websites get demoted in search result rankings if they do not have the required security certificates.
"Our aim with this project is to hold ourselves accountable and encourage others to encrypt so we can make the web even safer for everyone," Google said.
It is not yet clear whether the U.S. government will also oppose this move.
