{"id":91851,"date":"2025-12-05T13:09:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T12:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/?p=91851"},"modified":"2026-04-02T00:33:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T22:33:04","slug":"ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/","title":{"rendered":"Ahrefs: what does the lock mean beside a URL?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When someone asks <strong>ahrefs what does the lock mean beside a url<\/strong>, they often wonder what the little lock icon next to a link signifies. In short: it\u2019s a signal about the connection \u2014 not a guarantee about content. This article will explain what the lock really means, how it works in a browser address bar, and what to watch out for when doing SEO or site audits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#What_does_the_lock_icon_mean\" title=\"What does the lock icon mean\">What does the lock icon mean<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#Why_browsers_and_tools_show_a_lock\" title=\"Why browsers and tools show a lock\">Why browsers and tools show a lock<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#What_the_lock_does_not_mean_%E2%80%94_and_common_misconceptions\" title=\"What the lock does not mean \u2014 and common misconceptions\">What the lock does not mean \u2014 and common misconceptions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#Why_making_the_switch_to_HTTPS_matters_%E2%80%94_and_what_to_pay_attention_to\" title=\"Why making the switch to HTTPS matters \u2014 and what to pay attention to\">Why making the switch to HTTPS matters \u2014 and what to pay attention to<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#What_to_do_instead_of_relying_solely_on_the_lock_%E2%80%94_especially_when_using_Ahrefs_or_doing_SEO\" title=\"What to do instead of relying solely on the lock \u2014 especially when using Ahrefs or doing SEO\">What to do instead of relying solely on the lock \u2014 especially when using Ahrefs or doing SEO<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#What_does_a_lock_next_to_a_URL_mean\" title=\"What does a lock next to a URL mean?\">What does a lock next to a URL mean?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#What_is_the_padlock_symbol_in_the_URL_bar\" title=\"What is the padlock symbol in the URL bar?\">What is the padlock symbol in the URL bar?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#Does_the_lock_mean_the_website_is_safe\" title=\"Does the lock mean the website is safe?\">Does the lock mean the website is safe?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/#What_is_HTTPS_and_how_does_it_work\" title=\"What is HTTPS, and how does it work?\">What is HTTPS, and how does it work?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_the_lock_icon_mean\"><\/span>What does the lock icon mean<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seeing a lock icon (or padlock) next to a url means that the site uses <strong>HTTPS<\/strong>, not plain HTTP. The lock indicates the network connection between your browser and the site\u2019s server is encrypted, via TLS certificates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Essentially, the lock tells you that the underlying <strong>connection is encrypted<\/strong> \u2014 any data sent or received (login credentials, payment info, personal data) is scrambled so it cannot be easily intercepted by third-parties on the network.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many tools \u2014 including Ahrefs \u2014 when you see the lock next to a URL in a backlink list or site crawl, it simply signals that Ahrefs fetched that address via HTTPS. So if you\u2019ve ever searched \u201cahrefs what does the lock mean beside a url\u201d the answer is the same: the lock means secure transport, nothing more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_browsers_and_tools_show_a_lock\"><\/span>Why browsers and tools show a lock<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Browsers historically used a padlock icon in the address bar to show a secure (encrypted) connection. That padlock originally helped users distinguish between plain text (http) and encrypted (https) sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now encryption is more common \u2014 most websites use HTTPS \u2014 but the indicator remains useful to confirm that TLS certificates are properly set up. Indeed, many modern browsers are reducing emphasis on the padlock icon because users misunderstood it as a broad \u201cthis site is safe\/trustworthy\u201d badge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the context of SEO audit or link-research tools like Ahrefs \u2014 when you check a site\u2019s backlinks or crawl report \u2014 the presence of the lock icon or \u201chttps:\/\/\u201d prefix in the address suggests the connection from your browser (or crawler) to the server was encrypted. That can be considered a hygiene factor or baseline signal for a well-configured site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_lock_does_not_mean_%E2%80%94_and_common_misconceptions\"><\/span>What the lock does not mean \u2014 and common misconceptions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crucially: the lock (or padlock icon) does <strong>not<\/strong> guarantee that the site is trustworthy, legit, or safe. A malicious website or phishing site can still run over HTTPS and display the lock \u2014 encryption only protects the data in transit, not what\u2019s on the page itself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Putting it another way: encryption (i.e. secure connection) \u2260 guarantee about content quality, privacy practices, or site legitimacy. Many people confuse \u201csecure transport\u201d with \u201csafe\/reliable site.\u201d That\u2019s a mistake.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even the organisation that developed the browser interface (for example Google Chrome) has recognized this misunderstanding \u2014 which among other reasons is why Chrome recently retired the traditional lock\/padlock icon in favor of a more neutral symbol, to avoid giving a false sense of \u201ctrust\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_making_the_switch_to_HTTPS_matters_%E2%80%94_and_what_to_pay_attention_to\"><\/span>Why making the switch to HTTPS matters \u2014 and what to pay attention to<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the modern <strong>web<\/strong>, switching a <strong>site<\/strong> from HTTP to HTTPS can make a <strong>big difference<\/strong> \u2014 not just for security, but for SEO, user perception, and long-term maintenance. When you <strong>enable<\/strong> HTTPS properly, you gain <strong>control<\/strong> over data transmission so that sensitive information can\u2019t be <strong>tamper<\/strong>ed with or eavesdropped on. This gives users and site owners <strong>important information<\/strong> protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because a secure <strong>https connection<\/strong> helps prevent common vulnerabilities, it reduces the <strong>chance<\/strong> of <strong>error<\/strong> or data leaks \u2014 and reduces risk when visitors land on a page (especially for <strong>landing<\/strong> pages that collect user data or payments). It\u2019s no longer just about privacy: for many businesses the padlock becomes part of their <strong>marketing<\/strong> and trust-building strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technically, HTTPS works via a chain of <strong>certificate authorities (CA or cas)<\/strong> \u2014 a certificate issued by a trusted CA authenticates your <strong>domain<\/strong> and lets browsers accept that certificate as valid. That certificate establishes a secure <strong>chain<\/strong> of trust: only if all links are valid does the browser display the lock, confirming the connection is secured.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For site managers and developers using modern <strong>software,<\/strong> applying HTTPS is usually straightforward. Many hosting providers offer free SSL\/TLS certificates. Once installed, you should <strong>update<\/strong> internal links and redirect from old HTTP pages so that visitors aren\u2019t left on insecure versions of your pages \u2014 otherwise some visitors may still be on http, which undermines the whole point. Skipping this <strong>fix<\/strong> can cause a mix of secure and insecure content, which may give <strong>errors<\/strong> or warnings in browsers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From an SEO \/ search-engine-visibility perspective, the fact that <strong>https is a lightweight ranking<\/strong> signal matters: secure sites are slightly favored by search engines compared to sites still on HTTP.&nbsp;While this <strong>lightweight ranking factor<\/strong> won\u2019t override quality content or backlinks, when you have two otherwise similar pages \u2014 the one using HTTPS may rank a bit higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still \u2014 using HTTPS doesn\u2019t guarantee a site is trustworthy or that it\u2019s free of malicious content \u2014 the padlock doesn\u2019t automatically make the <strong>site is safe<\/strong> or <strong>site is legit<\/strong>. What it does is give you the <strong>best possible foundation<\/strong>: an encrypted connection, proper certificate <strong>chain<\/strong>, reduced vulnerability to network tampering, and the respect of modern browsers and search engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you run a site \u2014 especially one collecting user data or doing online marketing \u2014 enabling HTTPS should be a no-brainer. It may require some work (SSL certificate from a CA, update links, ensure all resources load securely), but these steps pay off: secure data flow, better user trust, fewer browser warnings, and a modest SEO edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trying to keep up with how AI is changing search? We covered <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/aio-and-seo-how-to-optimize-for-ai-search\/\">AIO and SEO \u2014 how to optimize for AI search<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/from-seo-to-aio-why-content-needs-more-intelligence\/\">from SEO to AIO \u2014 why content needs more intelligence<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/the-complete-roadmap-mastering-content-marketing-in-the-age-of-llms\/\">the complete roadmap for mastering content marketing in the age of LLMs<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Want to understand how AI is changing web design? Read our piece on <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/11-ai-powered-web-design-tricks-that-will-set-your-site-apart-in-2025\/\">11 AI-powered web design tricks that will set your site apart in 2025<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curious about AI in a more conceptual sense? We wrote a fun explainer on <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ai-is-like-a-cheesecake-see-why\/\">why AI is like a cheesecake<\/a> that makes the technology more approachable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Need tools to bypass or work with AI-generated content? Read our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/bypassgpt\/\">BypassGPT<\/a> and what it offers for content workflows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Want to build an AI-assisted website? We covered <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/webwave-ai-website-builder-elevating-web-design-through-artificial-intelligence\/\">WebWave AI website builder and how it elevates web design<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_instead_of_relying_solely_on_the_lock_%E2%80%94_especially_when_using_Ahrefs_or_doing_SEO\"><\/span>What to do instead of relying solely on the lock \u2014 especially when using Ahrefs or doing SEO<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are using Ahrefs for link audits, content audits, or <a href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/7-tips-for-better-seo\/\">SEO<\/a> \u2014 and you see a lock icon beside a url \u2014 treat it as a minimal quality check, not a stamp of approval. The lock indicates the connection was encrypted, but it doesn\u2019t mean the page is high-quality, spam-free, or safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inspect the content \u2014 Is the page well-written, relevant, valuable?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check for spam signals, poor outbound links, suspicious redirects, or phishing\/red-flag behavior.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evaluate the backlink profile \u2014 Who links to this url, and are those backlinks legitimate or spammy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look at canonicalization, SSL\/TLS certificate validity (especially if it\u2019s a valid certificate from a trusted certificate authority), and ensure the site is properly configured (redirects from HTTP\u2192HTTPS, no mixed content, correct canonical tags, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That way you don\u2019t treat the lock icon as a \u201ctrustworthy badge,\u201d but rather as one small hygiene check among many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you ask Ahrefs what does the lock mean beside a url, the answer is simple but important: the lock (the padlock icon) indicates that the connection between browser (or crawler) and server is encrypted via HTTPS\/TLS. It does not mean that the site is necessarily safe, trustworthy, or high-quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short \u2014 the lock = encrypted connection. Trust in a site must be earned through deeper evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_a_lock_next_to_a_URL_mean\"><\/span><strong>What does a lock next to a URL mean?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lock next to a URL \u2014 also shown as a padlock or \u201clock icon\u201d in the address bar of your browser \u2014 means the connection between your browser and the site\u2019s server is encrypted. It indicates the site is using a valid certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA), so data you send or receive (passwords, payment info, etc.) travels over a secure channel rather than as plain text.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_padlock_symbol_in_the_URL_bar\"><\/span><strong>What is the padlock symbol in the URL bar?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The padlock symbol (or lock icon) is a visual indicator provided by the browser to show that the current page is loaded over a secure protocol \u2014 typically an HTTPS connection. It reflects that the site has an SSL\/TLS certificate and that the transmission is encrypted. Clicking the padlock often brings up certificate details so you can inspect who issued the certificate, what domain it\u2019s for, and whether that certificate is valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_lock_mean_the_website_is_safe\"><\/span><strong>Does the lock mean the website is safe?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not necessarily. The lock only shows that the&nbsp;<strong>connection is encrypted<\/strong> \u2014 it does <em>not<\/em> guarantee that the site\u2019s content is trustworthy, that the site is legit, or that the domain is free of malicious content. Because obtaining a certificate from a CA can be relatively straightforward, even phishing or scam websites can show the padlock. So while the padlock helps protect your data in transit, you should still evaluate the content, domain, and the broader context before assuming the site is safe.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_HTTPS_and_how_does_it_work\"><\/span><strong>What is HTTPS, and how does it work?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is an extension of HTTP that adds encryption via the TLS (or previously SSL) protocol. When a website uses HTTPS, all data exchanged between browser and server \u2014 including headers, page content, form data \u2014 is encrypted. This prevents eavesdropping, tampering, or interception by third parties on the network. The server presents a certificate (issued by a trusted certificate authority), and the browser verifies that certificate before establishing the secure, encrypted connection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because of this encryption, HTTPS helps protect privacy and integrity of your data. Many websites now use HTTPS by default. Still, because HTTPS only secures the connection itself and doesn\u2019t vet the site\u2019s content or legitimacy, the presence of HTTPS (or the padlock) should be considered just one security signal \u2014 not a guarantee of safety.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When someone asks ahrefs what does the lock mean beside a url, they often wonder what the little lock icon next to a link signifies. In short: it\u2019s a signal about the connection \u2014 not a guarantee about content. This article will explain what the lock really means, how it works in a browser address [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-transparent-header":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ahrefs: what does the lock mean beside a URL? - WEBFIXTOOL BLOG<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ever thought \u2013 Ahrefs what does the lock mean beside a URL? Read our article to find out all details and combinations.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/webfixtool.com\/blog\/ahrefs-what-does-the-lock-mean-beside-a-url\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ahrefs: what does the lock mean beside a URL? - WEBFIXTOOL BLOG\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ever thought \u2013 Ahrefs what does the lock mean beside a URL? 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