Have you noticed the difference in websites’ URLs? Some start with HTTP, and some start with HTTPS. Early in the 1990s, HTTP was used by websites as the prefix of domain names, but in 2014, Google recommended converting all HTTP to HTTPS. So what was the reason behind this move? What’s the point of doing this? If you're interested in learning a bit more about Internet safety, then you’ve come to the right place.

What Are HTTP and HTTPS?

HTTP: HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. In the early days, all websites applied this protocol. Basically, HTTP enables the communication between two different systems. It is most commonly used to transfer data from a web server to a browser so that a user can view a web page anytime. However, using HTTP can pose serious risks because all data communication is not encrypted. Your data is simply transmitted in plain text and can be read by anyone easily if it gets intercepted. 

HTTPS: HTTPS is an acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure and an extension of HTTP. The less secure HTTP transfers data between the server and the browser, and the process is not encrypted, so the data can be easily stolen. Whereas, the HTTPS-enabled communication is encrypted by using an SSL certificate. The function of this certificate is to create a secure connection to encrypt and protect the data being transmitted. To put it simply, HTTPS is encrypted, and the "S" stands for secure. It operates using either Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates that authenticate the web server and establish an encrypted channel between the web server and the browser.

Why Is HTTPS So Important?

Moving the website from HTTP to HTTPS is not a choice but a necessity. The website that does not transition to HTTPS will be severely punished by the browser and search engine. If your website loads through the HTTP protocol that can be easily attacked, browsers will display a security warning and the visitors may leave your page. Not converting to HTTPS as soon as possible will cause growth stalls of your website and could indicate that you are not serious about protecting users’ sensitive data. By activating HTTPS, your website is enabled to:

Encrypt data. A site with an SSL certificate installed will activate HTTPS immediately and all message contents will be encrypted. Even if the data gets intercepted during transmission, the original information would be extremely difficult to recover without the appropriate key.

Prevent against phishing. Websites starting with "https://" are usually authenticated by a certificate authority which issues a trusted SSL certificate after verifying the identity of the website. As a result, hackers are unable to obtain detailed information about the website, effectively protecting visitors against phishing attempts.

Rank higher. Google has recommended converting all HTTP to HTTPS with the added benefit of improving website rankings, which will urge website owners to switch to HTTPS as soon as possible. Visitors are also more likely to use secure websites. In order to comply with current security guidelines, search engines, such as Google, consider the use of HTTPS as an important factor in ranking of the websites. It is for the website administrator’s own good to equip their sites with HTTPS.

Increase user trust. Chrome will flag HTTP sites with a red triangle and mark them as "Not secure". What’s more, using the HTTPS protocol encrypts the transmitted data, which means only the intended receiver of the data can read the decrypted information. In this way, sensitive information such as the user's personal information and credit card information will be protected, thereby enhancing the user's trust in the website. 

Key Differences Between HTTP and HTTPS.

Based on the above introduction to HTTP and HTTPS, the following table summarizes the main differences between them.

Why Don’t All Websites Use HTTPS?

We’ve learned from the above that HTTPS is more secure and reliable than HTTP, so why don't all websites use HTTPS?

Firstly, for website owners who don't use HTTPS, it’s probably because the process requires an SSL certificate issued by an authoritative CA. The more powerful the certificate, the more expensive it will be. Many believe blogs and small websites don’t necessarily need an SSL certificate.

Secondly, it is widely believed that the HTTPS connection is slower as it requires more work on the server side. But this is not the case in actual use. Website users can solve the problem by deploying the purchased certificate on SLB or CDN through performance optimization. And through experiments, it is also found that the loading speed of HTTPS is not as slow as imagined.

In the long run, certificates are very necessary. In addition to what has been described above, it eliminates insecurity warnings as well as meets PCI/DSS requirements. When users visit a website, they prefer a secure and reliable one. Therefore, it is recommended that website owners have a certificate that suits their needs to protect their website.

Three FAQs About HTTP and HTTPS.

1. Which is more secure, HTTP or HTTPS?

There is no doubt that HTTPS is more secure. HTTPS requires certificates to validate a website's identity and secure data in transit. Can resist man-in-the-middle and eavesdropping attacks.

2. Which one is faster, HTTP or HTTPS?

In most cases, HTTP runs faster because it does not require an SSL certificate for authentication, which means no extra work. However, as technology evolves, the new generation of HTTP/2 protocol is based on HTTPS, which has broken through the previous limitations and becomes faster than ever before.

3. Do I need to install an SSL certificate to upgrade to HTTPS?

Yes. To protect your website, it is necessary to purchase an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate is like an online identity card through which users can fully trust your website. And HTTPS can also improve the ranking of the website, making it easier for users to see your website among so many competitors.

Summary:

HTTPS has now become the standard protocol, which means that the longer you hesitate, the more likely you are to fall behind the competition. In fact, HTTPS is not the only and final answer to data transfer protocols, as it may one day be enhanced or replaced. The Internet is evolving so fast that you never know what new type of attack is going to happen next. For the time being, it is suggested to use HTTPS as soon as possible to ensure the security of your website.