{"id":15901,"date":"2022-11-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thesslstore.com\/blog\/?p=15901"},"modified":"2023-04-14T14:26:35","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T18:26:35","slug":"http-vs-https-difference-between-http-https-protocols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thesslstore.com\/blog\/http-vs-https-difference-between-http-https-protocols\/","title":{"rendered":"HTTP vs HTTPS: What\u2019s the Difference Between the HTTP and HTTPS Protocols?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The difference between HTTP and HTTPS can be the difference between your business being successful or suffering a data breach. Let\u2019s quickly highlight the key differences you should know about these two foundational connection types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HTTP, or hypertext transfer protocol, is the default connection type that websites revert to without a special security tool called an SSL\/TLS certificate. See that padlock near the top of your browser window? That means you\u2019re using HTTPS, which is a secure connection (hence, the \u201cS\u201d at the end). If you don\u2019t see one, it means you\u2019re using an insecure (unprotected) connection that leaves your data vulnerable. (In a nutshell, that’s the difference between HTTP vs HTTPS.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless you like handing out your most sensitive data like it\u2019s Halloween candy, you\u2019ll want to ensure you\u2019re using HTTPS for all of your website connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But aside from adding an extra letter at the end of the acronym, what is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS? Don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll cover everything you need to know in just a few moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s hash it out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n

A 2-Minute Overview of HTTP vs HTTPS and Their Differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HTTP and HTTPS are both internet connection protocols \u2014 meaning they\u2019re sets of rules that govern how you transmit data remotely between parties. (For example, between your website and the customers who connect to it.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference between the two boils down to data security: One secures data in transit (HTTPS) using verified identity and public key cryptography<\/a> while the other does not (HTTP). This means that while data is transmitting via HTTP, it\u2019s vulnerable to interception attacks (i.e., man-in-the-middle attacks). HTTPS is basically HTTP with a little something \u201cextra.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HTTPS = HTTP + Transport Layer Security (TLS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TLS is the successor of SSL, which you\u2019ve likely heard of, and requires a site owner to install a special digital certificate called an SSL\/TLS certificate (AKA a website security certificate<\/a>). TLS combines verified digital identity and encryption with the traditional HTTP request and response messages to make them more secure. This way, any unintended users can\u2019t intercept and read those messages in transit.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We won\u2019t get into all of the technical nitty-gritty of how HTTPS works<\/a> here \u2014 there\u2019s not enough time for that in this article. Instead, take a look at the following illustration to see the difference between HTTP and HTTPS when it comes to securing website connections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"HTTP
Image caption: A set of diagrams that display the difference between HTTP and HTTPS to secure data in transit.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a quick-glance guide that highlights the differences of HTTP vs HTTPS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type of Protocol<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>HTTP<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>HTTPS<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
What It Is (Technical Definition)<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Hypertext transport protocol \u2014 this is a set of rules for transmitting data in plaintext.<\/td>Hypertext transport protocol secure \u2014 this set of rules teams encryption with verified digital identity to encrypt data in transit. This means your data is secure against unauthorized access.  <\/td><\/tr>
Simplified Definition<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>An HTTP connection is like sending a postcard that\u2019s open for everyone to see and is susceptible to unauthorized modifications.<\/td>An HTTPS connection is like sending a coded (enciphered) message that only you have the key for, and that\u2019s sealed in a envelope with a wax stamp to protect the integrity of the message.  <\/td><\/tr>
Requests and Responses<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Request and response data for your website is not encrypted.<\/td>Uses transport layer security (TLS), formerly secure sockets layer (SSL), to encrypt data to secure data in transit.  <\/td><\/tr>
Port Number(s)<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Port 80<\/td>Port 443<\/td><\/tr>
How to Enable It<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Doesn\u2019t require anything special; this is the default communication protocol for data transfers. This is what servers revert to when secure connections fail, or website security certificates aren\u2019t installed on the server.  <\/td>Requires installing an SSL\/TLS certificate on your server that contains verified info about your domain and organization.  <\/td><\/tr>
How You Know It\u2019s Enabled<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Security icons display in your browser\u2019s address bar to indicate your website connection isn\u2019t secure (icons vary by browser): A padlock icon with a line marked through An exclamation markA padlock with an exclamation mark and \u201cHTTPS\u201d crossed out with strikethrough text   You\u2019ll also see \u201chttp:\/\/\u201d at the beginning of the website\u2019s URL. (This may require you to click on the URL to get it to display.)  <\/td>A locked padlock icon that communicates that the website (or, more accurately, its connection) is secure.   You\u2019ll see \u201chttps:\/\/\u201d display in the web address bar as well. (This may require you to click on the URL first to get it to appear.)<\/td><\/tr>
Security Risks<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Vulnerable to man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks<\/a> that enable cybercriminals to intercept your communications and steal, manipulate or delete your data in transit.  <\/td>The recommended security mechanism to protect your data in transit against MitM attacks and other related security issues.<\/td><\/tr>
Performance Speeds<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>HTTP is faster than HTTPS, but the difference is negligible and doesn\u2019t outweigh the security benefits of the latter.<\/td>HTTPS is slower but more secure than HTTP. However, HTTP\/2<\/a>, which compresses data and supports multiplexing, is faster and requires the use of HTTPS.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why You Should Use HTTPS Instead of HTTP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When users visit websites loading via HTTP, they\u2019ll see \u201cNot Secure\u201d messages that caution proceeding any further. As you can imagine, these warnings can have negative effects on your reputation and relationship with customers. After all, why should they trust you when you\u2019re making no visible effort to keep their data secure? They shouldn\u2019t, and rightfully so. This is why you need to step up and do something about it to make your website more secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the internet, you physically had to meet up with someone to securely exchange data. (Think of clandestine meetups in classic spy movies). Otherwise, you\u2019d risk a message being intercepted where someone could make unauthorized changes to its contents, and you\u2019d never know the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an age of near-instantaneous communications, these time-consuming and expensive rendezvous<\/em> are no longer necessary. Public key encryption, which is at the core of what makes HTTPS possible, enables people the world over to engage in secure remote communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enabling HTTPS on your website is a smart move for several key reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n