What is HTTPS? Benefits of using HTTPS protocol

 

HTTPS is certainly a keyword that is very familiar to those who regularly use the Internet. HTTPS is considered the gold standard protocol, the backbone of the entire world wide web, working to protect communication between web servers and browsers when transmitting data. So what is HTTPS? What are the benefits of using HTTPS? Let's find out with  TipsMake  in the article below.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure hypertext transfer protocol. In simple terms, HTTPS = HTTP + S (Secure), meaning HTTPS is simply the traditional HTTP protocol with added security methods to increase website security.

HTTPS is a combination of HTTP and SSL to provide better security for websites.

To recap, HTTP is the primary protocol for transmitting data between a website and a client's browser, and has been evolving and expanding since the 90s. Every text, image, animation, and even video displayed on your browser is transported over the Internet using HTTP. HTTP is arguably one of the most important backbones that make the Internet work today.

However, it is gradually realized that transmitting data without encryption can cause vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited by hackers, especially serious with sensitive personal information and passwords. Therefore, HTTPS was born as a more secure version of HTTP to solve the existing vulnerabilities.

What is HTTP?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the basic protocol that allows information to be transferred on the web. It is the foundation for every online activity we engage in every day, from searching for information to shopping online.

When you type a web address into your browser, it sends a request to the server using the HTTP protocol. The server then responds by sending back the data you requested, such as a web page or image. However, HTTP does not encrypt the data, which makes it vulnerable to outside attacks.

How does HTTPS work?

HTTPS uses one of two protocols to help encrypt communications. That protocol is either TLS (Transport Layer Security) or  SSL  (Secure Sockets Layer).

Both of these protocols use a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) system. This type of security system uses two different layers to help encrypt communications between two parties: 

1. Private Key: This key is controlled by the website administrator. This key resides on the web server and is used to decrypt information encrypted by the public key. 
2. Public Key:  This key is for those who want to work with the web server in a secure way. Information is encrypted with the public key and can only be decrypted with the private key. 

What is an HTTPS certificate?

HTTPS certificate, which is actually an SSL/TLS encryption certificate used in the HTTPS protocol, is provided by a third party (of course, your own good advertising is never as trustworthy as the comments of people around you). This certificate is registered by the website administrator with a third party such as DigiCert, GoDaddy, Symantec, . and stored on the website server. When establishing a connection with a client, the website sends this certificate to the client and the client takes the certificate to the certificate provider to confirm that it is correct.

HTTPS certificate will help identify secure and safe websites

When visiting a website with an SSL certificate, users will see a padlock icon in the browser's address bar. If an Extended Validation Certificate is installed on the website, the left corner of the address bar will turn green.

Why do I need an HTTPS certificate?

HTTPS certificate is not only a technical requirement but also an essential factor to ensure security and trust from users. Having this certificate brings many benefits not only for website owners but also for users.

Protect personal information: HTTPS certificate helps protect users' personal information, preventing data theft.

Increased website credibility: Users tend to trust and use websites with HTTPS more than those without. 

Compliance with regulations: Many countries have begun to implement privacy laws that require websites to keep user information secure. Having an HTTPS certificate helps businesses comply with these regulations and avoid future legal trouble.

Benefits of using HTTPS protocol?

Using HTTPS protocol not only protects data but also brings many other benefits to businesses and users. Here are some of the outstanding benefits:

Better security

The biggest benefit and also the main goal of HTTPS is enhanced security. HTTPS eliminates the worries of data eavesdropping or MITM attacks. Furthermore, SSL/TLS certificate providers also come with the function of confirming the website is the owner, helping you stay away from fraudulent and fake websites. In general, you will feel much more secure with your email, password, and other sensitive information when using HTTPS.

Security also indirectly leads to the benefits listed below.

Increase customer confidence

Switching to HTTPS gives customers more peace of mind when visiting your website, and it also shows professionalism. Third-party SSL/TLS certificates are like a trust-enhancing certificate for your website.

Improve website ranking

Search giants like Google and Bing are of course concerned about security, and have even made the switch to HTTPS early. As Google has confirmed, websites using HTTPS will get a ranking boost, so if you care about SEO, you should make the switch to HTTPS soon.

What happens if a website doesn't have HTTPS?

HTTPS will protect the user's information rights without having to worry about the website spreading information to anyone when using the internet. When information is sent via regular HTTP, the information will be divided into data packets and will be easily "stolen" by free software. 

User information can be stolen without HTTPS

In particular, this information is easily done through insecure means, such as public Wifi. In fact, most communications transmitted over HTTP are formatted in plain text, making them easily susceptible to information disclosure if someone with the right tools attacks the website address path. 

How are HTTP and HTTPS different?

Although both HTTP and HTTPS serve the purpose of transmitting data over the network, they have several important differences as follows:

SSL Certificate

HTTPS is essentially just HTTP. But adding a layer of encryption to an HTTP website doesn't necessarily mean it's HTTPS. The difference is the SSL/TLS certificate, which actually certifies the security of a website using HTTPS.

Ports on HTTP and HTTPS

Ports are ports that identify information on the client, then classify it for sending to the server. HTTP uses port 80, while HTTPS uses port 443. The difference is that Port 443 supports data that is encrypted before being transmitted.

Is the security level of HTTP and HTTPS different?

As mentioned, the security benefits of HTTPS over HTTP are obvious. The risks to the HTTP protocol such as eavesdropping, spoofing, etc. are all solved by switching to HTTPS. The biggest difference is the SSL/TLS security certificate, when the security is standardized and recognized by a third party, not just what you draw yourself and advertise to users.

Should I use HTTPS?

Previously, people still thought that only large organizations or those operating in specific fields such as banking, insurance, etc. needed to use HTTPS for security. The cost and difficulty of implementation may have made many people hesitate when wanting to use HTTPS. However, now with the popularity of HTTPS, the installation is becoming simpler and the cost is also decreasing, there are even many services that issue HTTPS certificates for free.

After all, with the benefits we've seen, there's no reason not to use HTTPS. In fact, you'll be left behind if you don't update to the standard soon.

How to convert HTTP protocol to HTTPs

Method 1: Convert HTTP protocol to HTTPs using plugin

Step 1: Install Plugins Really Simple SSL.

1. Log in directly to WordPress admin 
2. Select Plugins on the left 
3. Find the Plugin you need to install.lly Simple SSL

Step 2: Enable Simple SSL Plugin to automatically find and detect the website's SSL. 

Step 3: Use Plugins to convert all HTTP URLs of the web to HTTPs protocol.

Method 2: Manually convert HTTP protocol to HTTPs

Step 1: Edit wp-config.php file 

1. Open the wp-config.php file and scroll down to the line /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */ 
2. Add the following code: define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true)
3. Save changes and then log in to the admin page 
4. Go to Settings and select General. 
5. Once you're done editing, scroll to the bottom of the page and select Save Changes to update all settings.

Step 2: Use Plugins Better Search Replace to replace the link in the Database. 

1. Download and install the Plugin.
2. Activate the plugin then click Tools, select Better Search Replace and change the link in the red box or edit the link manually.
3. Finally click Run Search/Replace.

Step 3: Configure htaccess HTTP to HTTPs redirect

1. In your WordPress admin, find the .htaccess file in your root directory. This is where your Permalink structure settings are stored. 
2. Proceed to add the following rule to the .htaccess file to configure the HTTP to HTTPs htaccess redirection as follows:

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{HTTPs} off

RewriteRule ^(.*)$ HTTPs://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

Once completed, the browser has successfully switched from HTTP to HTTPs. So now, when any website is accessed, the link will be HTTPs protocol.

Some notes when using HTTPS

1. Make sure your website certificate is always up to date.
2. Check to make sure the Certificate is registered with the correct site name. For example, if your certificate only includes https://www.example.com, visitors loading your site using only example.com (without the www prefix) will be blocked by a certificate name mismatch error.
3. Make sure your web server supports SNI and that your audience uses supported browsers. While SNI is supported by all modern browsers, you will need a dedicated IP if you need to support older browsers.
4. Don't block your HTTPS site from crawling using robots.txt
5. Allow your pages to be indexed by search engines if possible. Do not use the noindex tag.
6. Old protocol versions are vulnerable, make sure you have the latest TLS libraries and deploy the latest protocol versions.
7. Only embed HTTPS content on HTTPS pages.
8. Make sure the content on your HTTP and HTTPS pages is the same.
9. Check to make sure your site returns the correct HTTP status code. For example, 200 OK for accessible pages, or 404 or 410 for non-existent pages.

Frequently asked questions about HTTPS protocol

Is it difficult to switch from HTTP to HTTPs?

Switching from HTTP to HTTPs is not too difficult, but you need to pay attention to registering and installing SSL certificates. If you have little experience in web administration, you should use tools to make the transition easier.

Is HTTPS free?

Answer: Yes, there are many free SSL certificate providers such as: Let's Encrypt. However, free certificates usually only provide a basic level of security and do not include technical support. 

Is there any convenient Plugin?

One of the quickest ways to make the switch is to use the Really Simple SSL plugin. However, using a plugin instead of the manual method can cause conflicts with your current version of WordPress or between plugins. This can cause HTTPs navigation to fail, affecting search rankings and user experience.

What types of SSL certificates are there?

There are currently three main types of SSL certificates:

1. Domain SSL Certificate: This is basic, inexpensive, and fast to issue with basic encryption.
2. Organizational SSL Certificate: Requires authentication from the business/company that owns the domain name, providing high security and creating trust for customers.
3. Extended SSL Certificate: Includes detailed company survey before issuing certificate, this is a premium certificate with maximum security.

What are the disadvantages of HTTPs protocol?

While registering and installing SSL for HTTPs is a bit complicated, HTTPs also has the disadvantage of consuming more server resources than HTTP. This can reduce performance, especially for high-traffic websites. However, performance can be improved by upgrading the website infrastructure.

Hopefully, with this article, TipsMake has helped you better understand the HTTPS protocol and its great benefits in today's Internet world. If you have not upgraded your website to HTTPS, do not wait any longer, but make the switch today to receive great benefits from this technology.