Google search is implementing a new policy that ranks search results by website security. Websites without a HTTPS will fall to a lower ranking. It said it is taking this action to promote better online security.

The move is designed to spur developers to implement TLS (Transport Layer Security), which uses a digital certificate to encrypt traffic, signified by a padlock in most browsers and “https” at the beginning of a URL.

Reputable websites use encryption when a person logs in, however, once logged in, some websites downgrade the connection to an unencrypted one. This could allow what is called a man-in-the-middle attack where content could be read.