HTTP vs HTTPS: Understanding the Key Differences
Explore the primary differences between HTTP and HTTPS and discover why HTTPS is faster and better for all your online activities.
HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) is the protocol that powers the web as we know it. It sits on top of TCP, which in turn sits on top of IP. Web pages can be served using either HTTP or HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure). So, how do they differ? And why is HTTP now being labeled as non-secure by Chrome?
Security
When you request an HTTP page from a server, the data passes through multiple networks, each controlled by a distinct entity or company. From the WiFi router, which may be owned by a coffee shop or the city’s public network infrastructure, each network node can view and modify the request and response in any way they like. This opens up the possibility of injected ads, malware, and the logging of your credentials. A server in the middle can even act as a man-in-the-middle, sending compromised information. The same applies to any unsecured internet protocol.
In contrast, HTTPS traffic is end-to-end encrypted, meaning that there is no intermediary that can read the information exchanged between you and the server on the other side. This ensures the confidentiality and integrity of your data.
The Ports
HTTP is typically served on port 80, while HTTPS is usually served on port 443. Although these are the default ports, a web server can choose to serve content on a different, random port. In such cases, you need to specify the port number in the address bar.
For example:
1 | http://example.com |
Is HTTPS Slower?
Absolutely not! In fact, the opposite is true. There is a common misconception that the TLS handshake required for HTTPS makes page loading slower. However, thanks to the introduction of HTTP/2 (the latest version of the HTTP protocol), an HTTPS page can load much faster than an HTTP page.
HTTP/2 allows for parallel requests and requires a secure connection. If your server uses a modern web server that supports HTTP/2, you’ll experience a significant speed boost when using HTTPS. With better parallelism, multiplexing, and compression, HTTP/2 is an impressive upgrade to the HTTP protocol. You can check out this page for an example: https://www.httpvshttps.com/ and https://www.troyhunt.com/i-wanna-go-fast-https-massive-speed-advantage/.
Does HTTPS Affect SEO?
Yes! According to Google, using HTTPS gives you an advantage in terms of SEO. Furthermore, Google plans to officially label HTTP sites as non-secure in its Chrome browser. This indicates that if you want to align with Google’s preferences and take advantage of improved search rankings, you should switch to HTTPS as soon as possible. The best time to have made the switch would have been three years ago, but the next best time is today.
Is HTTPS Difficult to Implement?
Not at all! Thanks to Let’s Encrypt providing free SSL certificates, there has been a significant push for HTTPS adoption. Nowadays, most decent hosting providers offer free SSL certificates for all accounts. In fact, in 2018, HTTPS connections outnumbered HTTP connections, reflecting the growing trend towards a secure web.
In the past, having an SSL certificate for your site was considered a premium option that only few were willing to invest in for a regular site that didn’t process user data or generate revenue. However, today, there is no excuse not to implement HTTPS on your website.
By making the switch to HTTPS, you can enhance the security, speed, and SEO performance of your website. Don’t wait any longer to prioritize your online presence.
Tags: HTTP, HTTPS, security, encryption, web, SEO