No SSL for you
With web applications popping everywhere, there is an interesting trend going on that I find surprising. Most of these applications have trial accounts where you can sign up and use a limited version of their program for free. When you need more options, you pay a fee and these companies make money when people start signing up for their paid plans. To get people to sign up for the paid plans, they limit the free accounts to just the basics so that the user gets hooked into using the program. Simple right?
The thing that surprises me is when these companies think that security is something that needs to be an extra feature. Most of these companies offer SSL security when you use their application. SSL helps to protect the data you send from your computer to their servers. It kinda makes sense if the trial accounts don’t include SSL security. But some of these companies don’t offer SSL security unless you upgrade to a “premium” plan and not just any paid plan. If I am paying a company money to use their services, I think it only makes sense if they take the extra step to secure my data. SSL certificates are not expensive if you are charging your customers, so why be greedy?
Just think of the most popular online applications online. From what I found, a lot of these companies follow this trend. I think providing all your accounts with SSL security is a good way of saying, “we will do everything we can to make sure your data is safe with us”. Who wouldn’t love hearing that?
