HTTP and HTTPS: The Foundation of Secure Internet
Two essential protocols for data exchange on the internet, HTTP and HTTPS, have significant differences when it comes to security. HTTPS is the advanced and secure version of HTTP, encrypting data to prevent third parties from intercepting sensitive information. For this reason, HTTPS has become mandatory on all websites dealing with sensitive data.
What is HTTP?
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a protocol that facilitates data transmission between websites and users. However, since data is transmitted without encryption, it is not secure and is vulnerable to attacks. A hacker could listen to network traffic and intercept sensitive information like login credentials.
How Does HTTP Work?
When a user visits a website, their browser sends an HTTP request to the relevant server:
GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com
Since this request is not encrypted, it can easily be read by attackers. The server responds to the request by returning the HTML page:
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/html
<html><body>Hello!</body></html>
In such communication, if the response contains sensitive information like credit card numbers or passwords, third parties can access this data.
What is HTTPS and Why is it Important?
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP and uses the SSL/TLS protocol to encrypt data. This ensures that transmitted information becomes unreadable to third parties.
Advantages of HTTPS
✅ Data Encryption: All communication between the user and the server is encrypted.
✅ Authentication: Confirms that websites are legitimate and trustworthy.
✅ Data Integrity: Prevents data from being altered or corrupted.
When using HTTPS, the data is transmitted in an encrypted format:
t8Fw6T8UV81pQfyhDkhebbz7+oiwldr1j2gHBB3L3RFTRsQCpaSnSBZ78Vme+DpDV...
This makes it impossible for attackers to read or modify the data.
SSL/TLS Certificates and Security
A website must have an SSL/TLS certificate to use HTTPS. Browsers verify the trustworthiness of a site through these certificates. If a website doesn’t have a valid certificate, the browser may display a “Not Secure” warning.
Transitioning from HTTP to HTTPS
For a website to switch from HTTP to HTTPS, an SSL/TLS certificate must be installed. Thanks to free certificate providers like Let’s Encrypt, websites can easily transition to HTTPS. Moving to HTTPS will:
✔ Protect user data.
✔ Increase the website’s trustworthiness.
✔ Help improve search engine rankings.
HTTP Response Codes
Some of the most common HTTP response codes that web developers may encounter include:
- 200 OK: The request was successful, and the requested resource is sent.
- 301 Moved Permanently: The requested resource has been permanently moved to another address.
- 404 Not Found: The requested page was not found.
- 500 Internal Server Error: A server-side error occurred.
Conclusion
- HTTP transmits data in plain text and carries security risks.
- HTTPS encrypts data and provides secure communication, improving user safety.
- Websites must use HTTPS according to modern internet standards.
Today, platforms like Google encourage the use of HTTPS and label websites that do not use HTTPS as not secure. Therefore, it is crucial for all web developers and businesses to transition from HTTP to HTTPS.
