The full form of HTTPS is Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure and it is an extension of the standard HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) used for transferring data over the internet.
Why HTTPS used?
HTTPS is used to establish a secure, encrypted connection between a web browser and a web server, and it is typically used for sensitive transactions such as online banking and e-commerce.
Difference between HTTP and HTTPS
The main difference between HTTP and HTTPS is that HTTPS uses an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificate to encrypt the data being transmitted. This encryption helps to protect the data from being intercepted and read by unauthorized parties.
How HTTPS works?
When a user connects to a website using HTTPS, the web browser first establishes a secure connection with the web server using the SSL or TLS certificate. This certificate contains the public key that the browser uses to encrypt the data, and it also contains information about the identity of the website.
Once the secure connection is established, the browser and the web server can exchange data securely, and any data that is transmitted is encrypted, making it much more difficult for anyone to intercept it.
Advantages of HTTPS
- It helps to protect sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and login credentials, from being intercepted and read by hackers or other malicious actors.
- It also helps to protect against “man-in-the-middle” attacks, where an attacker intercepts the data being transmitted and alters it, such as redirecting the user to a phishing website.
- HTTPS is also important for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as search engines, such as Google, are increasingly giving priority to websites that use HTTPS. This is because HTTPS is seen as a sign of trust and security, and it can help to boost a website’s search engine rankings.
- HTTPS is also used in compliance with various regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). These regulations require that sensitive information is transmitted securely and HTTPS is considered as an industry standard for that purpose.
Conclusion
The full form of HTTPS is Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, it is an extension of the standard HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) used for transferring data over the internet.
HTTPS uses an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificate to encrypt the data being transmitted, thus protecting sensitive information from being intercepted and read by unauthorized parties.
HTTPS also helps to protect against “man-in-the-middle” attacks, it is important for SEO and used for compliance with various regulations.
It is considered as an industry standard for secure data transmission and is increasingly being used by websites to establish a secure and trusted connection with their users.