Mozilla greenlights encrypted Google search by default

Mozilla, which controls roughly a quarter of the browser market, plans to turn on encrypted Google search by default for Firefox users, according to release notes. Privacy researcher Chris Soghoian, who suggested the change, said in a Wednesday blog post that the secure channel, designated by "HTTPS" in the address bar instead of "HTTP," will protect users against government or internet service provider monitoring. In addition, websites will be unable to capture the search queries that led visitors to their site. Google currently encrypts search by default, but only for signed-in users. The new functionality is expected reach all users within a couple of months.