What is HTTPS?
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is an enhanced, secure version of HTTP, which is the foundational protocol used for data exchanges between web browsers and websites. HTTPS adds an encryption layer to HTTP, which is crucial for protecting data transfers, especially when users enter sensitive information, like bank login details, email credentials, or health records.
Websites that handle login credentials or other sensitive information should prioritize using HTTPS. In today’s web browsers, like Chrome, there’s a visible distinction for sites using HTTPS, typically shown with a padlock icon in the URL bar, indicating a secure connection. Browsers such as Chrome flag non-HTTPS websites as ‘not secure,’ underscoring the importance of HTTPS for user safety online.
How does HTTPS work?
HTTPS employs an encryption protocol to secure communications, specifically using Transport Layer Security (TLS), which previously went by the name Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This protocol enhances security through an asymmetric public key infrastructure, which relies on two distinct keys to protect data exchanges between parties:
Private Key – This key is securely held by the website owner and resides on the web server. It decrypts data that has been encrypted by its paired public key.
Public Key – Accessible to anyone interacting with the server, this key allows users to encrypt information, which can only be decrypted with the associated private key.
Why is HTTPS essential? What risks arise if a website lacks HTTPS?
HTTPS safeguards data by encrypting it, ensuring that information isn’t easily exposed to others on the network. When data is sent over standard HTTP, it’s broken into data packets that can be intercepted with simple software, leaving communications on unsecured networks, like public Wi-Fi, open to potential eavesdropping. Because HTTP transmits data in plain text, it’s readable by anyone with the right tools, making it susceptible to on-path attacks.
By contrast, HTTPS encrypts the data, so even if someone intercepts it, the information appears as scrambled characters, protecting it from unauthorized access.
Before Encryption:
This is a string of text that is completely readable
After Encryption:Q2FzPTc5ZWthI2FSc9lfVG==FGFz8kdW3Uj3VURpMz==
On websites that lack HTTPS, internet service providers (ISPs) and other intermediaries can potentially insert content into webpages without the website owner’s consent. This often happens through advertising, where ISPs seeking additional revenue inject ads into the browsing experience of their users. When this occurs, website owners have no control over the quality or profits of the inserted ads. HTTPS prevents such unapproved third-party content from being injected, maintaining the integrity of the website’s content.
What port does HTTPS use?
HTTPS operates over port 443, distinguishing it from HTTP, which uses port 80.(A port in networking is a virtual endpoint for network connections, enabling computers to exchange data. Each port number corresponds to specific processes or services, with various protocols using distinct ports.)
How can a website use HTTPS?
Many hosting providers offer TLS/SSL certificates for purchase, sometimes shared among multiple customers. Higher-cost certificates are also available for specific web properties.For instance, Cloudflare provides HTTPS protection at no cost using a shared multi-domain SSL certificate. By setting up a free account, websites can receive ongoing HTTPS protection. Paid plans also offer dedicated certificates and additional features, ensuring that sites receive the full benefits of HTTPS.
How is HTTPS different from HTTP?
Technically, HTTPS is not a separate protocol but rather HTTP combined with TLS/SSL encryption. HTTPS works through TLS/SSL certificates that authenticate the identity of a provider.When a user connects to a secure webpage, the server sends an SSL certificate with a public key that initiates a secure session. The client and server then perform an SSL/TLS handshake, a back-and-forth communication process that establishes the secure connection.