Thinking about switching your website to HTTPS?
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 8:28 am
This guide covers the main differences between HTTP and HTTPS, the benefits of using HTTPS, and how to migrate from HTTP to HTTPS step by step.
But before that, let's cover some basics.
What is HTTP?
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is a set of rules that allows web browsers (like Chrome or Safari) to communicate with web servers (the computers that host websites).
HTTP uses a request-response model.
For example, when you enter a website address into your geographic area of albania browser's address bar, your browser sends a request to the server.
An infographic showing how the "HTTP Client" sends the request to the "HTTP Server"
Once the server transfers the resource to the browser, the connection between the two is closed. Your browser establishes new connections as needed when you navigate to other web pages on the site.
The protocols defined by HTTP were fundamental to creating the World Wide Web as we know it today.
But HTTP has some major drawbacks:
HTTP traffic is not encrypted and is sent in plain text. This means that anyone on the same network can easily intercept and read all transferred data.
There is no way to authenticate or verify the identity of a website accessed via HTTP
HTTP offers no protection against tampering. Attackers can modify data before it reaches its destination.
Websites accessed via HTTP are vulnerable to threats such as session hijacking , man-in-the-middle attacks , and data leaks.
Browsers, such as Google Chrome, can also block content and URLs served over HTTP by enabling a "Not Secure" page similar to the one below.
An example of a "Not secure" page in a browser
Security issues surrounding HTTP opened the door to HTTPS.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of HTTP with added encryption.
HTTPS uses an encrypted connection to communicate between the server and the browser. This encryption technology used in HTTPS is known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates.
A padlock icon next to the address bar indicates that an HTTPS connection to a website is secured by a valid SSL/TLS certificate:
A highlighted lock icon next to the "semrush.com/projects/" site.
SSL/TLS certificates contain public and private encryption keys to protect data transfers between browsers and websites.
Encryption keys contained in certificates encrypt communication between the browser and the server to prevent unauthorized access. This prevents hackers from accessing your information.
An infographic listing different SSL/TLS certificates in a circle from "Server" to "Laptop"
But before that, let's cover some basics.
What is HTTP?
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is a set of rules that allows web browsers (like Chrome or Safari) to communicate with web servers (the computers that host websites).
HTTP uses a request-response model.
For example, when you enter a website address into your geographic area of albania browser's address bar, your browser sends a request to the server.
An infographic showing how the "HTTP Client" sends the request to the "HTTP Server"
Once the server transfers the resource to the browser, the connection between the two is closed. Your browser establishes new connections as needed when you navigate to other web pages on the site.
The protocols defined by HTTP were fundamental to creating the World Wide Web as we know it today.
But HTTP has some major drawbacks:
HTTP traffic is not encrypted and is sent in plain text. This means that anyone on the same network can easily intercept and read all transferred data.
There is no way to authenticate or verify the identity of a website accessed via HTTP
HTTP offers no protection against tampering. Attackers can modify data before it reaches its destination.
Websites accessed via HTTP are vulnerable to threats such as session hijacking , man-in-the-middle attacks , and data leaks.
Browsers, such as Google Chrome, can also block content and URLs served over HTTP by enabling a "Not Secure" page similar to the one below.
An example of a "Not secure" page in a browser
Security issues surrounding HTTP opened the door to HTTPS.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of HTTP with added encryption.
HTTPS uses an encrypted connection to communicate between the server and the browser. This encryption technology used in HTTPS is known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates.
A padlock icon next to the address bar indicates that an HTTPS connection to a website is secured by a valid SSL/TLS certificate:
A highlighted lock icon next to the "semrush.com/projects/" site.
SSL/TLS certificates contain public and private encryption keys to protect data transfers between browsers and websites.
Encryption keys contained in certificates encrypt communication between the browser and the server to prevent unauthorized access. This prevents hackers from accessing your information.
An infographic listing different SSL/TLS certificates in a circle from "Server" to "Laptop"