Do Google use HTTPS as a trust indicator?

[PeterAlexLeigh]

Scenario:

Two sites, exactly the same with a form to capture customer details on the home page (e.g. name, address).

Would Google rank a site that uses HTTPS over a site that uses HTTP?

From what I've heard, they would trust the HTTPS site more than HTTP and therefore rank it higher.

Forum opinions?

[Naghirniac]

What I read about there is no difference for google.

[Vizergy]

Hello Shelly, I have never seen anything that lead me to believe that secure pages receive more inherent trust just because they are secure. A couple of years ago Matt Cutts was asked a similar question (SEL or SEJ... my memory is failing me on where I read it) and his answer alluded to the fact that they are treated the same, just pick one and stick with it. Besides that, I can’t remember the last time I noticed a secure page ranking high in the SERPs at all, if ever… admittedly, I am sure there are far less secure pages… Anyway, I do not believe a secure page receives more initial trust just because it is secure.

My two cents,

Vizergy

[PeterAlexLeigh]

Vizergy - thanks for that. I have problems trusting anything that Mr. Cutts says, but it makes sense.

[Vizergy]

I agree about trusting Cutts, however I believe this one to be true