The Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS) is an extension of HTTP that provides secure communication over a computer network. HTTPS uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) or its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), to encrypt data exchanged between the client and server. This encryption ensures that data transmitted, such as login credentials, personal information, and payment details, cannot be intercepted or tampered with by unauthorized parties.
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web. It is an application-layer protocol used for transmitting hypertext documents, such as HTML, between a client (usually a web browser) and a server. HTTP follows a request-response model where the client sends a request to the server, and the server responds with the requested resource or an error message. HTTP is stateless, meaning each request from the client to the server is treated as an independent transaction.
Secure connection transfer protocols are protocols designed to provide secure data transmission over a network by encrypting the data being sent. Examples include HTTPS, which secures HTTP communications; Secure Shell (SSH), which provides secure access to remote computers; and Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), which secures file transfers. These protocols use various encryption methods to protect data from eavesdropping, tampering, and other security threats during transmission.
HTTP is secured by using HTTPS, which incorporates TLS/SSL to encrypt the data exchanged between the client and server. This encryption ensures that the data cannot be read or altered by attackers while in transit. Additionally, HTTPS provides authentication, verifying the identity of the server to the client through digital certificates issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs). This prevents man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker could impersonate the server and intercept sensitive information.