HubSpot & LinkedIn Scripts: How to Force HTTPS for Enhanced Security

Hey there, ESHOPMAN readers! As experts in all things HubSpot and e-commerce, we love diving into the nitty-gritty details that make your online stores and marketing efforts shine. Sometimes, that means tackling tricky technical issues that pop up in the HubSpot Community, just like a recent discussion we spotted about a peculiar LinkedIn script problem.

It's a fantastic example of how HubSpot users, RevOps pros, and marketers often face unique challenges when integrating various tools. This particular thread highlighted a common frustration: an automatically injected script that wasn't playing nice with modern security standards.

The Head-Scratching Problem: Insecure LinkedIn Scripts

The original poster in the HubSpot Community brought up a really important point: a LinkedIn script, seemingly injected automatically by HubSpot (likely via the LinkedIn Ads app), was appearing on their blog pages with an insecure protocol. Instead of https://platform.linkedin.com, it was showing up as just //platform.linkedin.com. While technically a protocol-relative URL that should default to HTTPS on an HTTPS page, sometimes browsers or specific security scanners flag these as potential issues, especially if the script is loaded before the page's full HTTPS context is established, or if it's referenced within a context that might not reliably enforce HTTPS.

For any e-commerce business, security isn't just a nice-to-have; it's foundational. An insecure element, even a small script, can affect your site's overall security score, potentially trigger browser warnings, and erode customer trust. Imagine having a top-notch online retail inventory management system ensuring all products are in stock, but your website's security warnings are scaring customers away before they even hit 'add to cart'!

The core issue for the original poster was that they couldn't find this script anywhere in their editable design manager files. It was a ghost in the machine, automatically added by HubSpot, making it incredibly difficult to modify directly.

A Community-Sourced Solution: The Clever Filter Workaround

Thankfully, a helpful community member jumped in with a clever workaround. Since HubSpot automatically injects many standard header elements via the {{ standard_header_includes }} HubL tag, the trick is to intercept and modify its output using a HubL filter. This isn't the most 'official' way to do things, but as the respondent noted, sometimes it's the only clean solution when you're dealing with automatically generated code.

Here's how you can implement this fix if you're facing a similar issue:

Step-by-Step Guide to Forcing HTTPS on LinkedIn Scripts

1. Identify Your Blog or Base Template:

   First, you need to find the template that's loading your blog pages. In your HubSpot Design Manager (under Marketing > Files and Templates > Design Tools), navigate to your blog template. It might look something like this at the top:

   
   {% extends '../layouts/base.html' %}

   If your blog template uses {% extends '../layouts/base.html' %} (or similar), then your standard_header_includes are likely in that 'base.html' file. If your blog template doesn't extend another layout, the tag might be directly within your blog template.

2. Locate {{ standard_header_includes }}:

   Open the relevant template file (e.g., base.html). Search for the HubL tag {{ standard_header_includes }}. This tag is responsible for injecting a lot of HubSpot's default header code, including things like analytics scripts, meta tags, and in this case, the LinkedIn script.

3. Apply the replace Filter:

   Once you've found the {{ standard_header_includes }} tag, you'll modify it to use HubL's replace filter. This filter allows you to search for a specific string within the output of the tag and replace it with another.

   Change this:

   {{ standard_header_includes }}

   To this:

   {{ standard_header_includes|replace('//platform.linkedin.com', 'https://platform.linkedin.com') }}

   A crucial note: The original poster's code snippet showed //platform.linkedin.com/in.js. The community solution suggested replacing //plattform.linkedin.com (with two 'f's). Make sure you match the exact string you see in your page's source code. If your script uses //platform.linkedin.com, then that's what you should target in the filter. Double-check your site's source code to confirm the correct string to replace.

4. Publish Your Changes and Test:

   Save and publish your template. Then, clear your browser cache and check your blog pages. Inspect the page source (usually right-click > 'View Page Source' or 'Inspect') to confirm that the LinkedIn script now correctly shows https://platform.linkedin.com.

Important Caution: As the community member rightly pointed out, modifying {{ standard_header_includes }} is not generally recommended. This snippet loads many critical elements, and an incorrect modification could break other functionalities. Always back up your template before making changes, and test thoroughly after implementation.

ESHOPMAN Team Comment

We appreciate the ingenuity of this community-sourced solution. While modifying standard_header_includes directly isn't ideal for long-term maintainability or future HubSpot updates, it's a practical, immediate fix for a security vulnerability that HubSpot should ideally handle natively. For e-commerce operators, security is non-negotiable, and this workaround demonstrates the ingenuity required when platform defaults fall short. We'd advocate for HubSpot to provide a more robust configuration option for such external scripts.

Ensuring your HubSpot-powered storefront or blog is fully secure is paramount for maintaining visitor trust and SEO rankings. While this fix addresses a specific script, it's a good reminder to regularly audit your site's security, from SSL certificates to third-party script integrations. Keep an eye on your HubSpot Community discussions – you never know what clever solutions you'll find there!