Understanding HTTP vs. HTTPS: The Role of SSL/TLS Encryption

Did you know that the difference between HTTP and HTTPS can mean the difference between a secure online experience and a potential data breach? Understanding these protocols is crucial for anyone navigating the web today.

Definition of HTTP and HTTPS

Have you ever wondered how your browser fetches the websites you visit? HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is the method that allows your browser to request resources like HTML documents and images from a web server. When you enter a URL or submit a form, your request travels across the internet as plain text. This means that anyone intercepting that data can easily extract sensitive information, such as your name, address, or credit card details.

Enter HTTPS, the secure version of HTTP. The "S" stands for "Secure," indicating that this protocol includes security features to protect your data. You can easily identify a website using HTTPS by looking for a lock icon in the address bar. When you submit a request via HTTPS, your information is encrypted before it travels to the web server, making it nearly impossible for attackers to decipher.

Two Cryptographic Protocols: SSL and TLS

Imagine sending a package through the mail. If it's unsealed, anyone can tamper with it. This is akin to HTTP. Now, picture that package locked in an indestructible safe—only those with the key can access its contents. That's HTTPS in action.

HTTPS secures your data using one of two cryptographic protocols: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security). While SSL was the original protocol, TLS is its modern successor and is the current standard for secure communications.

Here's a quick breakdown of how SSL works:

1. Authentication: When you connect to a website using SSL, your browser requests the server to identify itself.
2. Proof: The server responds with an SSL certificate to prove its identity.
3. Handshake: Once both parties are satisfied, they perform a virtual handshake to establish an encrypted connection.

How to Get an SSL Certificate

If your website isn't using HTTPS, you'll need to obtain an SSL or TLS certificate. While anyone can issue a certificate, only those from publicly trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs) are recognized by browsers. Here are the three main types of certificates you can get:

• Domain Validation (DV): The most basic level of security, often available for free at Let's Encrypt. Ideal for blogs and small service providers.
• Organization Validation (OV): Offers more security and better identification, requiring additional verification.
• Extended Validation (EV): The most rigorous verification process, providing the highest level of trust.

Your web hosting company may also offer user-friendly options to install SSL certificates, making the process even easier.

How to Check and Fix HTTPS Issues

Even if you started your site on HTTPS, you might still encounter issues. For instance, some pages may still be using unsecure HTTP. Even major sites like Amazon have subdomains that still operate on HTTP.

To check for HTTPS issues, you can use Google to search for unsecure URLs. Simply type site:yourdomain.com -inurl:https. If you see results, you'll need to address those pages by adding redirects or canonicalizing them as necessary.

For a more comprehensive approach, consider running a website audit. Tools like Ahrefs Site Audit can help identify HTTPS-related issues across your site. After running the crawl, check the "All Issues" report for a complete list of problems, including any internal links pointing to HTTP pages.

Conclusion

Take action now: ensure your website uses HTTPS to protect your users' data and improve your search engine ranking. As internet security becomes increasingly important, having HTTPS is no longer optional—it's essential.

What steps will you take today to secure your website?