Does It Matter If I Have HTTPS or HTTP On My Website?

If you browse the Internet daily, then you probably open many different URLs during your time online. Sometimes you come across a URL that starts with https:// and on some other occasions, the URL starts with https://. Did you know that the latter URL protocol takes action to protect your internet security more than any other?

Let’s take a look at if it matters if you use HTTPS or HTTP on your business website!

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The Rationale Behind HTTP Protocol

When we type a URL with the protocol HTTP, it means there is no implemented data encryption on the domain. Invented by Tim Berners-Lee in the early 90s when the Internet was still in its early stages, the network protocol HTTP allowed web browsers and servers to communicate via a simple data exchange.

Sometimes referred to as a system exhibiting statelessness, the HTTP protocol enables connection ‘as’ and ‘when’ a user seeks it. Thus, whenever a user clicks on a link and requests a connection, the web browser sends a request to a dedicated server which obliges by opening the page that the user is looking to browse. The principle here is, the faster the connection, the faster a user gets access to the data.

As is the case, the HTTP protocol is only concerned with presenting the information to a user. HTTP cares very little about whether or not this information could carry a potent security threat. The trust factor when transferring data over HTTP is missing.

“The trust factor when transferring data over HTTP is missing.”

HTTPS Promises a Secure Browsing Affair

HTTPS and HTTP are the same in that both are termed as “hypertext transfer protocol” and work to present web data on your computer screen. However, HTTPS scores better than HTTP in being a bit more secure and advanced when compared to the latter. The word S in the abbreviation refers to the term “secure,” and it gets its backing from the Transport Layer Security. Its predecessor is the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which is the standard security protocol responsible for ensuring that the connection between a web server and a browser is encrypted.

HTTPS is a protocol that also ensures crucial details like a username or a password, and information related to credit cards, bank credentials, and form entries, are sent in an encrypted manner. Sending any information in plain text means Internet users face many different security threats when transferring data via websites.

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It is wise to check that a site is using HTTPS protocol before entering any form of information. More than just encrypting data exchanged between a server and the browser, HTTPS also takes a good hard look at the transmitted data. HTTPS not only authenticates a server the user is connecting to, but it also shields the data from all sorts of tampering.

In short, HTTP is nothing but a destination. HTTP is responsible for getting data to a screen, while HTTPS manages the data in terms of how it gets there. In tandem, the two protocols move data safely and efficiently.

The World Sees Promise in HTTPS

Today, almost everything you do happens online. Of course, data privacy and security are a big concern, as the Internet can make or break someone, especially on sites where users are entering their payment details. Visitors need confidence that they can trust a webpage. HTTPS is one way to give your users the confidence that any information entered into your site is encrypted.

What’s more, HTTPS also helps with SEO. Way back in 2014, Google started treating sites with the HTTPS protocol more seriously. Since then, it has become the means to achieve that elusive page visibility and higher rankings. So, if you are a business owner that relies on website traffic and visibility, there is only one option: HTTPS.

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Web browsers also work towards increasing HTTPS usage by implementing UI changes, which again turn non-HTTPS into HTTPS sites. Google also mentioned that all sites not using the HTTP protocol would be marked as unsafe to browse.

Once again, HTTPS leads to cyber-safety, and it is a better network protocol than HTTP. All site owners should protect their visitors’ data, and give them the confidence that their data is transmitted safely and securely.

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