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What is the HTTPS protocol and why is it needed

Have you ever thought about how safe your regular Internet visit is? So, more often you are not protected at all, because most sites work using the HTTP protocol. And this means that the transfer of all data occurs in an absolutely unprotected form and, if desired, it can be intercepted in any intermediate node participating in the chain.

In order to remedy this situation, the HTTPS protocol was developed.

For those who don’t know what it is HTTPS is a data transfer protocol that ensures a secure and confidential exchange of information between the website and the device that the user uses to access the network.

 

Features of using the HTTPS protocol

If you still don’t understand why you need HTTPS, check out the following list:

  1. All transmitted information is encrypted., which excludes the possibility of familiarization with unauthorized persons.
     
  2. Any changes or distortions of the transmitted data are fixed, regardless of whether they are intentionally committed or by accident.
     
  3. Interception Attack Protection guarantees safe user authentication on the site.  
     
  4. If the website is using the HTTPS protocol and it is visually displayed in the browser address bar, there is a significant increase in trust from users.


     
  5. The impact of HTTPS on website promotion officially confirmed by Google.
     
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How it works

  1. Information security is achieved by using SSL / TLS - A standard protocol that provides a safe connection when accessing web resources and makes it impossible to view the transmitted data by outsiders.
     
  2. When installing a connection based on the HTTPS protocol creating a random secret key, which will be known only to the server and your computer.
    Then, when using this key (which, by the way, is generated again at each new communication session) all transmitted information is encrypted.
    It is impossible to gain access to transmitted data from the side by selecting a secret key, since it consists of more than 100 characters.
     
  3. Another additional safety enhancement element is used. HTTPS protocol connections are digital certificate, used to identify the website server.
    It confirms the fact that the server was controlled by the person to whom it was issued. It contains all the necessary information about its owner and there is a digital signature that is used to confirm the authenticity.


     
  4. Only if the server digital certificate is authenticated does the data exchange between the website and the user's device begin.
     

Where is used

Support for the HTTPS protocol is built in all modern browsers.

The scope of this security protocol is quite wide. In particular, this:

  • sites of banking and other financial institutions;
  • electronic payment systems;
  • most of the web resources that handle private information and operate on personal data (e.g. Yandex.Passport, Gmail).
  • absolutely any websites for the owners of which the safety of information and the trust of users are important.
     

Is it obligatory to use this security protocol

Fortunately, for now this protocol is optional and you still have the opportunity to choose whether to use it or not.

But now that you know why you need an HTTPS protocol, before development new site it is worth considering the possibility of its use, taking into account all the above advantages.

For existing sites, transition is also possible and useful, but this will require a lot of time and labor costs.

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