GOOGLE CHROME TO DEFAULT TO SECURE HTTPS CONNECTIONS BEGINNING IN APRIL . (PHOTO).

 Google Chrome to default to secure HTTPS connections beginning in April 

Google is taking a major step to make web browsing safer by default. While the use of HTTPS—a more secure web protocol—has plateaued, with 95–99% of Chrome navigations already using it as of 2020, the company plans to enable a new setting called Always Use Secure Connections for all public websites by default. This change will roll out in October 2026 with Chrome 154. Users who already have Enhanced Safe Browsing turned on will see the feature earlier, starting in April with Chrome 147. Once activated, Chrome will request user permission before connecting to any public site that does not use HTTPS.

Google has been gradually pushing this shift for years. Chrome first warned users about insecure HTTP websites in 2018, defaulted to HTTPS in April 2021, and began offering Always Use Secure Connections as an opt-in in 2022. The move aims to prevent attacks where hackers intercept or reroute connections to deliver malware or execute social engineering exploits. Because even a single HTTP navigation can provide a foothold for attackers, Google says HTTPS is critical for public sites. Private networks, like local IP addresses and company intranets, often remain on HTTP due to challenges in obtaining certificates, but these connections carry lower risks since attacks would need to originate from inside the network.