How does http differ from https?

Despite the fact that people often do not type it when accessing a given website, http is the key element making browsing possible. One more letter was added to the protocol which is worth noting. Https became a new security standard for Google and Chrome. Why is ‘s’ so important? Let’s start with the idea behind it.

The ‘http’ abbreviation means ‘Hypertext Transfer Protocol’ and it is used for sending information on the Internet. In other words, http is the “online messenger” when you wish to go from one website to another. All you have to do is enter the URL in the address field and press enter. The protocol receives your request and redirects you to a server where a given website is located. The server processes the request and sends a response that reaches your computer through http, displaying a website.  

Hence, the protocol plays an important role as it is subject to hacker attacks such as ‘man in the middle’, which involves someone participating in the communication between a user and server to acquire confidential information. This is why a new protocol has been developed and popularised in the recent years, namely https. It fills the security gaps of https.

What does the ‘s’ mean in https and how does it vary from http?

The difference between the two protocols is simple and is contained in the ‘s’ itself which means ‘secure’. In practice, a cryptographic protocol is added to http, namely the Transport Layer Security. TLS guarantees encryption of a website and server on which it is located, protecting the user against attacks. In order for a website to be considered secure by https, it must feature a digital signature confirmed by a Certificate Authority, evidencing its identity. The browser you use, verifies such requirements and if everything operates correctly, the website is rated as secure.

Google Chrome and https

Starting in July 2018, Google Chrome, being the most popular browser in the world, has adopted https as the standard for all websites. There are several justified reasons for the above: to make online payments or enter authentication or confidential data, it is necessary to ensure security and protection. If a website does not meet requirements regarding communication via https, the browser will report it as insecure. It is possible to browse it but users are clearly notified that their data is not properly protected.

SSL certificate for an Internet domain

If you manage a website, it is required to possess a certified digital signature that enables to use https. Due to the above, your site visitors will not see an ‘insecure connection’ warning on their computer displays. To change your website from the http to the https standard, register an SSL certificate for your domain.

There are free certificates issued by Let’s Encrypt for instance, or paid certificates supplied by GoGetSSL, etc. It is important, specifically in the case of pages translated into several languages, to ensure https on all of them. Otherwise, there is a risk that some translated parts or entire pages in a given language will remain in the http standard. Besides accurate website translation, proper use of SSL certificates will also have a big impact on SEO.

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