Google has announced a major update to strengthen internet safety for Chrome users. Beginning in October 2026, Chrome will automatically activate the “Always Use Secure Connections” feature for all users. This change means the browser will issue visible warnings when users visit websites that do not use HTTPS encryption, making secure browsing the default experience.
Currently, Chrome already displays a “Your connection is not private” message when a website’s HTTPS configuration is faulty. However, with this update, warnings will also appear on any website that lacks HTTPS entirely. This move reflects Google’s ongoing efforts to make browsing safer by protecting users from unencrypted and potentially risky connections.
HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, encrypts communication between users and websites, preventing hackers and other malicious actors from accessing sensitive data. Google first introduced HTTP page warnings in 2021, but users had to manually enable them. From 2026, Chrome will make this protection automatic, ensuring that every browsing session begins with security as a standard.
In its announcement, Google highlighted that between 95 and 99 percent of all web connections already use HTTPS. “This level of adoption is what makes it possible to consider stronger mitigations against the remaining insecure HTTP,” the company stated.
Google also pointed out that most remaining HTTP traffic comes from private websites, which sometimes struggle to obtain HTTPS certification. While such connections can still pose risks, they are considered less dangerous than insecure public websites.
Before the global rollout, users with Enhanced Safe Browsing enabled will start receiving these security alerts from April 2026. Google confirmed that users who prefer to browse without the automatic setting can disable it in Chrome’s preferences by turning off “Always Use Secure Connections.”
With this update, Google aims to make the internet safer, reducing user exposure to data theft, phishing, and other cyber threats while promoting transparency and trust across the web.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
