What is the Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS?
What is the Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS?
First things first: before we get into HTTPS, let's go over what each of the letters in the acronym HTTP stand for. The HyperText Transfer Protocol, more often known as HTTP, is an application protocol that allows for the transfer of information between web servers and the clients that access those sites.
HTTPS is a communications protocol for secure communication. You probably already knew this, but the letter "S" in this abbreviation stands for "secure."
To go a little further into the technical aspects, it is important to note that the HTTPS protocol is really a mix of the HTTP protocol and two more protocols known as SSL and TLS (Secure Sockets Layer or its successor, Transport Layer Security). The latter are accountable for introducing new layers of security to HTTP.
Simply looking at the address bar at the top of your browser will tell you if the HTTP or HTTPS protocol is being used on the website you are now viewing. In most cases, the fact that you have protection is shown by more than just the letter 'S' at the end of the phrase; rather, there are also certain readily visible visual effects.
The following is a description of how Chrome implements HTTPS. Note the padlock and green text:
Clicking on the padlock will provide further details about the current connection. It is clear that the TLS 1.0 protocol, which is the one responsible for security, is being used in this connection. Additionally, take note to the phrases "Certificate," "256-bit encryption," and "CA." The abbreviation CA refers to the Certificate Authority or Certification Authority in this scenario. Keep an eye out for a future article on my blog that will go into greater detail on these words.
When using Chrome, you may sometimes see HTTPS marked in red, rather than green. This behavior is completely normal. When it is shown in red, it may also have various additional aesthetic impacts, such as the text of the HTTPS being obscured by a line. This indicates that the connection you are using at the moment is not completely secure. There are a number of possible explanations for why this is the case; if you are interested in finding out more information on the specific reason, click on the padlock.
Additionally, this is Chrome, but the protocol is not encrypted:
There are websites that support both the HTTP and HTTPS protocols. If you have a good Internet connection and hardware that is somewhat up to date, you should utilize HTTPS rather than HTTP if you have the opportunity to select between the two. Increasing the amount of security won't hurt anything.
There is no need that every website use the HTTPS protocol. If you are not transmitting or receiving sensitive information, you should use HTTPS rather than HTTP since the additional 'S' at the end is very crucial. However, if you are not sending or receiving sensitive information, HTTP should be OK.
Because the Internet is playing a more significant part in our everyday lives, one of the most essential things you can do is spend some time understanding the fundamentals of Internet security. This is one of the most important things you can do. You may be able to safeguard yourself in the future by making a little investment in acquiring some more information. An important takeaway from this specific blog article is that whenever you are working with private or sensitive information, you should ensure that you are using HTTPS.
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