Google Search over HTTP Beta – Implications to Website User-Stats Tracking

Now that Google rolled out a beta for searching via HTTPS, interesting fact to note:

When you use SSL search, the browser typically does not send referrer information to any HTTP links you visit

This means the more people use encrypted Google, the less information you will get about search engine and keywords searched in your websites stats tools, about people coming to your website. Unfortunately, the majority of users will probably not use it anyway. Let’s see how long it will stay in beta. On the other hand this may also get website hosters/owners to switch to HTTPS as well, as the primary means, as those will still get referrer information.