Securing Google Services

If like many people, you use Google's Web-based services (Gmail, Google Calender, Google Reader, etc.), there's a simple step you can take to ensure private information doesn't leak out over the Internet. By using https:// instead of http:// when you use a Google service (for example, https://www.gmail.com), you create an encrypted Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) link between your computer and the Google server. This prevents plaintext information from easily being viewed by anyone who might be monitoring Internet traffic. Here's more information.