HTTP VS HTTPS - ngulikenak.net

Have you heard of HTTP? Or heard of HTTPS? In short, HTTP and HTTPS are data exchange protocols. Both are prefixes that have an important role in the distribution of data on the web page you are visiting. However, it turns out that the level of security and SEO performance of websites that use the two protocols is different.

Before discussing the differences between these two data exchange protocols, we need to discuss what exactly these two are to make it easier to understand the difference. The following is a brief explanation of HTTP and HTTPS.

Understanding HTTP
Understanding HTTPS
How HTTPS Works
HTTPS Functions
Difference between HTTP and HTTPS
Things You Need To Pay Attention To Before Switching To HTTPS
Conclusion

Understanding HTTP

HTTP (http://) or Hypertext Transfer Protocol is an application network protocol whose job is to distribute information in the form of data from a web server to a web browser. The web server acts as a server, while the web browser acts as a client. In other words, HTTP is a regulator of the process of displaying a website.

Launching GlobalSign, Tim Berners-Lee created this protocol in the early 1990s when the internet was not as advanced as it is today. This data exchange protocol standard allows web browsers and servers to communicate via data exchange.

HTTP uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). HTTP is “a stateless system” or “decentralized system” which means that this protocol allows connections based on user requirements. As an “application layer protocol,” HTTP focuses on delivering information but is caught off guard by moving data from one place to another. This means that other users can infiltrate and modify the data in HTTP.

Understanding HTTPS

In simple terms, HTTPS (https://) or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Safe is the result of the development of the previous HTTP. The developer of this protocol is an IT-based company, Netscape Communication Corp.

HTTPS is quite different from HTTP. The network protocol of this application is more sophisticated and much more secure. The security function is tighter so that it can make clients feel safe when accessing web content.

The letter “S” in the HTTPS abbreviation which stands for “Secure” indicates that this protocol has Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Socket Layers (SSL) support. TLS or SSL is a standard security technology that establishes an encrypted connection between a web server and a web browser. In other words, HTTPS has used a system of encryption or data scrambling so that it is difficult to hack.

How HTTPS Works

HTTPS uses an encryption system to secure data. When there is an access request on a website that uses this protocol, the browser will first confirm whether the website is connected with an SSL or TLS certificate.

Websites that have an SSL or TLS certificate will then go through the SSL handshake process. This process is related to the encryption and decryption of data between server and client.

After confirming that the SSL certificate is valid, the server and client will generate a session key. This means that the server and client can perform secure data communication. In addition, the browser will also display a green padlock indicator in the web URL section

Thus, the security of the website browsing process is valid.

HTTPS Functions

HTTPS has functions that can help make the internet experience even more enjoyable. Here are the four main functions that you need to know.

1. Improve Website Security

HTTPS is website security. This protocol uses an encryption system that allows data scrambling. Therefore, the data will be difficult to hack. The encryption system can also help avoid data theft and mistransmit data.

2. Strengthen Website Credibility

Websites that use https:// have a lock icon indicating that the connection on the website is secure. This also means that the data transfer process on the website has also received additional security.

Thus, website visitors can also see that the website with HTTPS is credible. The First Site Guide states that 84% of people choose to leave a website if the data being sent comes from an unsecured connection. In addition, 29% of people also see the address bar with a green indicator before accessing a website further.

3. Help SEO

HTTPS not only improves website security but can also have a positive SEO impact. In 2014, Google announced this application’s network protocol as a standard for their ranking.

Since then, Google has determined that only websites that use the HTTPS protocol will accept recommendations appearing in search results. Therefore, if you want your website to be easier to find, make sure that your website uses SSL protection. Companies that use this data exchange protocol can have higher rankings and page visibility.

To make sure of this, let’s try typing certain keywords in Google search results. Surely the website that appears is a website with the HTTPS protocol.

4. Strengthen Mobile Security

HTTPS also protects traffic on mobile devices. This needs further attention because nowadays, more and more people are using their mobile phones to surf the internet and do online shopping. With the use of this application’s network protocol, mobile security will be even stronger.

Difference between HTTP and HTTPS

There are three differences between these two most commonly encountered application network protocols, namely data security, port usage, and SSL usage. The following explains the three differences.

1. Data Security

HTTPS has higher security than HTTP. Without this data exchange protocol, any data that you enter into a site, such as usernames, passwords, credit cards, etc. will be sent as plain text which is very likely to be seen by others.

HTTPS uses three data security procedures, namely:

Server authentication ensures the user is communicating with the correct site. This protocol ensures that the client has accessed the data from the correct server. With server authentication, this application network protocol can avoid man-in-the-middle when exchanging data. Usually, this process uses client names and password validation. If it displays incorrectly during the validation process, the server will automatically reject the response from the client.
Data encryption aims to guard against data theft during data transfer. The process of this method is complicated and requires a special code to read it.
Data integrity is essential for transfer to occur. This happens because the transmitted data will be wrapped by the protocol. Previously, the data had gone through the Message Authentication Code (MAC) validation process. MAC requires a specific message and key that only the recipient and sender of the message know.

2. Port Usage

The ports for sending and receiving HTTP and HTTPS data are different. HTTP uses port 80, while HTTPS uses port 443.

When using port 80, communication or data transfer is still in plain text so it is very vulnerable to being hacked. On port 443, communication is more secure because every data transfer is encrypted.

3. Use of SSL/TLS

HTTPS is a protocol developed by HTTP that already utilizes SSL security certificates. Unlike HTTP, which does not yet use SSL/TLS, HTTPS has used SSL/TLS to encrypt data.

With SSL/TLS, messages sent are scrambled. That way, the data can only be read properly by websites that have a predetermined encryption key.

Things You Need To Pay Attention To Before Switching To HTTPS

Before moving your website’s data transfer protocol, you need to pay attention to several things so that the transfer process is safe and the data being transferred is also safe. In short, here are four steps you need to consider before moving on:

Get an SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority
Install HTTPS on your hosting account
Setting 301 Redirects by changing the .htaccess file in your root folder by adding:
- RewriteEngine On
- RewriteCond%{HTTPS} off
- RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [R=301,L]
Inform search engines that your site address has changed and anyone who visits your site after that will automatically be redirected to an HTTPS address

Conclusion

HTTPS is a data exchange protocol that has SLS/TLS. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Safe serves to improve website security, strengthen website credibility, and assist SEO, and mobile security.
There are three differences between HTTP and HTTPS, namely data security, port usage, and SSL usage. In the aspect of data security, HTTPS is far superior because it uses an encryption system. The HTTPS port is port 443 which allows communication to be more secure because all data transfers are encrypted. Unlike HTTP, HTTPS has used SSL/TLS to encrypt data.