Google is extending SSL encryption security to search traffic for all logged-in Gmail users, the company has announced. The key phrase here is 'by default' because it has been possible for Google search users to access encrypted search manually since May of last year using the https://www.google.com/ site.

Over the next week or so users accessing the search site with the extra 's' will have all search queries and results pages encrypted from prying eyes even when using insecure channels.

"This is especially important when you're using an unsecured Internet connection, such as a WiFi hotspot in an Internet cafe," said Google, dryly, announcing the upgrade in an official blog.

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