What is HTTPS Protocol? Definition and Benefits
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2024 8:29 am
Browsing the Internet is very simple and most users today know how to do it without any problems: you just have to open a browser window, type the destination path (web page) and wait for it to load.
Internally, the process that occurs is much more complex and a series of protocols come into play that make it possible.
Some of them are related to our security, as is the case of the HTTPS protocol. Today you will learn about it in depth.
If you still don't know what HTTPS is and how it protects you when browsing the Internet, in this article you can learn everything about the protocol.
What is HTTPS?
First of all, it is important to be clear about the meaning of HTTP . It is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol .
HTTPS is the same thing, except that the term “ secure ” is added.
In both cases, we are talking about a protocol that defines the way in which data travels through the Internet.
If the HTTP protocol is used, the data will be accessible to anyone who can capture the communication, so it is not considered the most effective way to do so.
The HTTPS protocol, on the other hand, uses a secure connection since it is based on the SSL encryption system . This allows data to travel safely from one data point to another, and cannot be captured by anyone.
To better understand what the HTTPS protocol is , it is important to know how it works. In a nutshell, this is how it works:
We open a web page and the browser will try to connect to a site that has been protected with SSL.
The browser will require the web server to identify itself.
This is how the server will send a copy of its SSL certificate to our browser.
Once the browser has received the copy, it will check whether the website is trustworthy. If so, it will send a message confirming this.
The server will send a digitally signed acknowledgement that will allow the encrypted connection to be initiated.
This is how encrypted data will start to be transferred between the server and the browser.
How did HTTPS come about? Its beginnings and history
HTTP , the classic protocol on which web browsing is based, was invented between 1989 and 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee . This protocol has changed considerably over the years due to emerging needs.
Originally, this protocol was designed to exchange files in a controlled environment, in a laboratory. Now it is used to exchange all kinds of files (images, texts, high-resolution videos, etc.) through an infinitely larger network.
You may have already noticed that when browsing the most popular sites (such as Google or social networks like Twitter or Facebook), the protocol used is not HTTP, but HTTPS , combined with the TLS protocol (acronym for Transport Layer Security ).
To understand the beginning of HTTPS, it is necessary to travel back in time to 1994. At that time, the company Netscape , known for having designed the eponymous browser, created SSL v2 .
It was an encryption protocol that had been designed to protect communications over the Internet. However, it would take another year for this protocol to be integrated into the Netscape Navigator browser in its version 1.1 .
This was a very important moment in time, as it was the first time that you could surf the Internet with an encryption protocol. At that time it was not very important, but today it is essential.
As a first version, SSL v2 presented significant security problems . Netscape would not take long to make the relevant corrections, and that is how it would launch the next version, SSL v3 .
This security system has been in use for many years.
In fact, the most advanced versions still have their place in SSL 3.0 . However, some experts recommend using the TLS protocol, which is an evolution of the SSL protocol.
What is HTTPS used for? 6 main uses
So that you can learn more about what HTTPS is in computing, here is a short list of its main uses:
Creating an encrypted channel
HTTPS allows you to create an encrypted channel to work with the most sensitive information.
Of course, it must be taken into account that the level of encryption will depend on the browser used and the remote server with which one is interacting.
No additional software will be required.
By using the protocol, it will not be necessary to install any type of mexico whatsapp number data software or additional functionality. Therefore, it will be usable by any type of surfer without any restrictions.
As we will see below when we discuss the advantages of HTTPS, this is very interesting, as it helps to foster customer trust, increasing the chances of the desired conversion taking place.
Full integration
The HTTPS protocol is compatible without any problems with most current web browsers, such as:
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Opera
Safari
Unequivocal identification that the website is secure
Most commonly, a distinctive feature will appear in the browser indicating that the page is secure. It is usually a small padlock located on the left side of the address bar .
Internally, the process that occurs is much more complex and a series of protocols come into play that make it possible.
Some of them are related to our security, as is the case of the HTTPS protocol. Today you will learn about it in depth.
If you still don't know what HTTPS is and how it protects you when browsing the Internet, in this article you can learn everything about the protocol.
What is HTTPS?
First of all, it is important to be clear about the meaning of HTTP . It is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol .
HTTPS is the same thing, except that the term “ secure ” is added.
In both cases, we are talking about a protocol that defines the way in which data travels through the Internet.
If the HTTP protocol is used, the data will be accessible to anyone who can capture the communication, so it is not considered the most effective way to do so.
The HTTPS protocol, on the other hand, uses a secure connection since it is based on the SSL encryption system . This allows data to travel safely from one data point to another, and cannot be captured by anyone.
To better understand what the HTTPS protocol is , it is important to know how it works. In a nutshell, this is how it works:
We open a web page and the browser will try to connect to a site that has been protected with SSL.
The browser will require the web server to identify itself.
This is how the server will send a copy of its SSL certificate to our browser.
Once the browser has received the copy, it will check whether the website is trustworthy. If so, it will send a message confirming this.
The server will send a digitally signed acknowledgement that will allow the encrypted connection to be initiated.
This is how encrypted data will start to be transferred between the server and the browser.
How did HTTPS come about? Its beginnings and history
HTTP , the classic protocol on which web browsing is based, was invented between 1989 and 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee . This protocol has changed considerably over the years due to emerging needs.
Originally, this protocol was designed to exchange files in a controlled environment, in a laboratory. Now it is used to exchange all kinds of files (images, texts, high-resolution videos, etc.) through an infinitely larger network.
You may have already noticed that when browsing the most popular sites (such as Google or social networks like Twitter or Facebook), the protocol used is not HTTP, but HTTPS , combined with the TLS protocol (acronym for Transport Layer Security ).
To understand the beginning of HTTPS, it is necessary to travel back in time to 1994. At that time, the company Netscape , known for having designed the eponymous browser, created SSL v2 .
It was an encryption protocol that had been designed to protect communications over the Internet. However, it would take another year for this protocol to be integrated into the Netscape Navigator browser in its version 1.1 .
This was a very important moment in time, as it was the first time that you could surf the Internet with an encryption protocol. At that time it was not very important, but today it is essential.
As a first version, SSL v2 presented significant security problems . Netscape would not take long to make the relevant corrections, and that is how it would launch the next version, SSL v3 .
This security system has been in use for many years.
In fact, the most advanced versions still have their place in SSL 3.0 . However, some experts recommend using the TLS protocol, which is an evolution of the SSL protocol.
What is HTTPS used for? 6 main uses
So that you can learn more about what HTTPS is in computing, here is a short list of its main uses:
Creating an encrypted channel
HTTPS allows you to create an encrypted channel to work with the most sensitive information.
Of course, it must be taken into account that the level of encryption will depend on the browser used and the remote server with which one is interacting.
No additional software will be required.
By using the protocol, it will not be necessary to install any type of mexico whatsapp number data software or additional functionality. Therefore, it will be usable by any type of surfer without any restrictions.
As we will see below when we discuss the advantages of HTTPS, this is very interesting, as it helps to foster customer trust, increasing the chances of the desired conversion taking place.
Full integration
The HTTPS protocol is compatible without any problems with most current web browsers, such as:
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Opera
Safari
Unequivocal identification that the website is secure
Most commonly, a distinctive feature will appear in the browser indicating that the page is secure. It is usually a small padlock located on the left side of the address bar .