HTTP vs HTTPS: What Do These Mean?

The internet is a dangerous place. The average internet user can’t always be sure of the identity of the people they are communicating with, the data they are sending, or the websites their browsing. When you use HTTP (un-encrypted) to transmit sensitive information over the internet, all this information is sent in plain text. HTTPS (encrypted) ensures that your information isn’t intercepted by third parties. Here's why you should switch to HTTPS now.

1. The dangers of HTTP
2. Switch to HTTPS for an improved browsing experience
3. Why does HTTPS matter?
4. How to enable HTTPS on your website
5. Conclusion

The dangers of HTTP

The dangers of using HTTP have been well documented. When you transmit sensitive information over the internet, it is sent in plain text. This means that anyone with access to your information can see it. That includes hackers who can intercept your data during transmission and decipher what it means. Additionally, when you communicate with other people, you are often asked to enter personal or private details like passwords or credit card numbers. These types of communications should be encrypted for security purposes.

Switch to HTTPS for an improved browsing experience

HTTP and HTTPS are two different protocols for transmitting data. HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and is un-encrypted while HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure and offers a layer of encryption. The internet offers a lot of opportunities to share and access information and, while this is important, it’s also dangerous. There are many ways your personal information can be intercepted by third parties when you use HTTP to transmit sensitive information over the web. HTTPS ensures that your information isn’t intercepted by third parties. Switching to HTTPS will help you get an improved browsing experience since you won’t have to worry about third parties intercepting your personal information. It also provides a more secure environment for transactions like online banking or shopping online with your credit card. When you switch to HTTPS, all of the traffic between your browser and the website is encrypted and therefore safer from intruders looking to steal your data or eavesdrop on your activity.

Why does HTTPS matter?

HTTP is a longstanding, but outdated standard for exchanging data on the internet. The problem with HTTP is that it’s not encrypted, which means all your information is transmitted in plain text. If you use HTTP, there's a chance that third parties will intercept your information. It doesn’t matter if you’re sending sensitive information like credit card numbers or passwords, or simple stuff like search queries and browsing history- your data isn’t safe. HTTPS is more secure because it encrypts all of the exchanged data. This way, no one can see what you're transmitting to someone else on the internet.

How to enable HTTPS on your website

A lot of websites still aren’t using HTTPS, which is a shame. Updating your website to use HTTPS is an easy update that can make your website more secure and trustworthy in the eyes of your visitors. To enable HTTPS on your website, you'll need to purchase an SSL certificate. This will help establish a secure connection between the user and the server when they visit. There are plenty of affordable options for purchasing an inexpensive SSL certificate; we offer them here at Wix. Once you’ve purchased your SSL, you can install it on your site by following these instructions:

1) Open up the Wix Editor and click on "Site Settings."

2) Click "Site" from the left-hand menu.

3) Select "SSL Certificate."

4) Select "Install SSL Certificate."

Conclusion

A lot of websites are still running on HTTP. HTTPS is about the safety of your data, and some sites might not know how to switch. HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP that lets your browser know that your data is safe. It’s used to encrypt your data as it travels to and from your device and the site you’re on. It’s important because it helps protect your sensitive data, like bank account numbers, passwords, and more.