Understanding HTTPS and TLS: A Comprehensive Guide

HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol secure, which is a much secure version of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). It encrypts the data being sent by the web browser to the server so as to prevent it from getting accessed or modified by hackers.

HTTPS is essential for websites that sends sensitive information like credit card details, billing address, username or passwords etc.

Advantages of HTTPS are :

• Privacy and Security - HTTPS prevents data being modified by hackers.

• Data Integrity - HTTPS ensures data integrity by encrypting the data.

• Faster performance: HTTPS encrypts the data and reduces its size, which can result in faster performance.

• SEO: Search engines use site protocol as a ranking signal, so HTTPS sites are more likely to rank higher than HTTP sites.

• Compatibility: Modern browsers can block sites that don't use HTTPS, so using HTTPS ensures your site's compatibility.

How does HTTPS work ?

HTTPS uses an encryption protocol to encrypt communications. This protocol is called Transport Layer Security an updated version of Secure Socket Layer(SSL). This protocol secures communication by using something known as Asymmetric public key infrastructure. It uses two different types of keys to encrypt the communication between the browser and the server.

1. The private key - this key is controlled by the owner of a website and it’s kept, as the reader may have speculated, private. This key lives on a web server and is used to decrypt information encrypted by the public key.

2. The public key - this key is available to everyone who wants to interact with the server in a way that’s secure. Information that’s encrypted by the public key can only be decrypted by the private key.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that encrypts data sent over a network, such as the internet. It's used to secure communications like email, instant messaging, and voice over IP.

How TLS works

• TLS uses cryptographic protocols to ensure that only the intended recipient can access the data.

• When a client and server communicate using TLS, the server must provide a digital certificate to confirm its identity.

• Both the client and server can authenticate each other if they both have their own digital certificates.

SSL(Secure Socket Layer)

The main responsibility of the SSL is used to ensure the reliability and security of the data being transferred between the two parties. Its the main technology responsible for the encryption and decryption of data being transmitted. For establishing a secure communication link between the communicating devices, SSL uses a digital certificate called SSL certificate.

Difference between HTTP and HTTPS