In response to privacy concerns, Google is introducing an encrypted search page called Google Beta that will offer encrypted search results, meaning that the search results you bring up will not be visible to others who have access to your network. The new development addresses some of the concerns raised recently when Google vehicles reportedly intercepted communications from private users in areas where they had been working. Arstechnica.com reports as follows on the new development.
“SSL search means that an encrypted connection is created between your browser and Google’s servers. When you perform a search, your search terms and whatever results come back from them will only be visible to you—anyone who might be sniffing packets on your network (such as, say, Google!) won’t be able to see that you’re looking up cures for hemorrhoids, the lyrics to every song in the musical Cats, or something worse.”
For the time being, searches on the encrypted page will only be raw search results. Image, map or blog searches will not be covered. Additionally, the encrypted connection will be somewhat slower. Users who want to access the encrypted page can type in the following url.
Once you store it as a favorite and label it, it is fairly easy to use. It will be interesting to see what percentage of Google traffic will be encrypted in the future.
It should be noted that the privacy assurances do not necessarily extend to the links you click on, but only to the searches themselves. Additionally, Google will continue to collect data on searches.
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