Why HTTPS Matters for Websites

It is usually very beneficial to understand what certain internet acronyms stand for, as well as why they might be of great importance to us.

12:20 18 September 2017

We take many of tech-related acronyms for granted and don’t pay much attention to their meaning. However, apart from the WWW, URL and SSL, HTTP(S) is an important, and very common, acronym that every user should be familiar with, so let us take a closer look at it. 

 

What Exactly is HTTPS?

 

Let’s start off with HTTP, which is shortened from Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Basically, it represents a set of rules for transferring files such as text, images, or videos from a website server to a client.

Now in the mid-1990s, Netscape Communications designed "HTTPS" where the "S" meant the security. Also, it refers to the security technology known as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) that forms an encrypted link between website visitors and a server. 

In other words, the purpose of HTTPS is to encrypt the data flow between a server and a client, and protect from hacker attacks by establishing trust among site visitors who make payment transactions. That is exactly why most credit card companies, online shops and online casinos use HTTPS - to ensure all payment info is absolutely secure at all times. 

 

Why it Matters?

 

HTTPS exists to prevent potential thieves from being able to passively listen to communication between the websites and the users. One common delusion about HTTPS is that only those websites that handle sensitive communications need HTTPS. The truth is, every HTTP request that’s unprotected can possibly reveal information about the activities and identities of the users. 

Although a single visit to an unprotected website may seem harmless, users need to be very careful, as some intruders can look at their browsing activities in order to make implications about their activities and de-anonymize their identities.

 

HTTPS is the Future

 

Adding the “S” and getting the SSL Certificate is the first step in securing every website and the customer's data. Primarily, SSL helps to protect from all kinds of cyber-attacks and, therefore, establishes the trust within the website visitors. So, by securing their websites, the companies create further confidence and offer a safe user experience. Users, on the other hand, should always check if the website in question has HTTPS to make sure all their payment info and details would be 100% secure.