The editor of Downcodes will give you an in-depth understanding of the differences between HTTPS protocol and HTTP protocol! This article will compare HTTPS and HTTP protocols in detail from seven aspects: security, default port, data transmission encryption mechanism, performance consumption, SEO impact, certificate cost and management, and implementation difficulty, and answer common questions. With its strong security, HTTPS has become a common choice for Internet website construction, but it also brings higher costs and implementation difficulty. Let’s explore the benefits and challenges of HTTPS and its impact on website security and SEO.
The main differences between the HTTPS protocol and the HTTP protocol are: different security, different default ports, different data transmission encryption mechanisms, and different performance consumption. Among them, security is the most critical difference between the two. HTTPS encrypts data transmission through SSL or TLS to ensure data security and integrity during the transmission process, while HTTP transmits unencrypted plain text and is more susceptible to security threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks.
The HTTPS protocol is encrypted by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) to establish a secure data transmission channel, effectively preventing data from being intercepted and tampered with during transmission. This encryption protection is especially important for sensitive transactions, such as online banking and e-commerce. On websites that use HTTPS, the browser will usually display a lock icon to indicate that the connection is secure.
In contrast, the HTTP protocol uses unencrypted plain text transmission, and data can easily be intercepted and viewed by third parties during transmission. If the website handles sensitive information, such as user login information, payment data, etc., using the HTTP protocol will greatly increase the risk of being attacked by hackers.
In network communications, port numbers are used to identify specific processes or services on a host. HTTPS uses port 443 by default, while HTTP uses port 80 by default. Servers and browsers exchange data through these ports. When using non-standard ports, the specific port number needs to be specified in the URL.
The HTTPS protocol provides authentication and encrypted communication through SSL/TLS based on HTTP. This enables HTTPS to encrypt data and verify the identity of the server and client, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.
The SSL/TLS handshake process mainly includes:
The client sends encryption capabilities to the server. The server chooses the encryption algorithm and sends the certificate to the client. The client verifies the validity of the certificate. The two parties negotiate to generate a "session key" to encrypt subsequent communication processes.In the HTTP protocol, data is transmitted in plain text without encryption and verification mechanisms, resulting in poor security.
The HTTPS protocol has some performance overhead compared to the HTTP protocol. Due to the additional calculations required during encryption and decryption, especially during the SSL handshake, both the server and client require more CPU and memory resources. Although the development of modern hardware and optimized encryption algorithms have reduced this overhead, HTTPS still brings higher performance consumption compared to HTTP.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is also affected by the agreement. Google has made it clear that adopting the HTTPS protocol is a positive factor in search engine rankings. This means that, all else being equal, a website that uses HTTPS is likely to rank higher in search results. It can be seen that HTTPS not only improves the security of the website, but also helps improve the website's online visibility.
The HTTPS protocol requires the use of SSL/TLS certificates, which are issued by certification authorities (CA). The price of a certificate varies depending on the type, degree of verification, and certification body. For many websites, the purchase and renewal of certificates is an additional expense. In addition, certificate management is also part of website operation and maintenance. Improper management may cause problems such as certificate expiration on the website.
Although there are free certificate offerings (such as Let's Encrypt), a paid certificate may be a necessary option for organizations that require a higher level of verification. Purchasing certificates usually includes three levels: Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV) and Enhanced Validation (EV).
Implementing the HTTPS protocol is more complicated than HTTP. It requires properly installing an SSL/TLS certificate, configuring the server to support encrypted communications, and ensuring that all resources on the website are served over HTTPS. During the migration process, website owners also need to deal with a series of challenges such as redirects, mixed content issues, and ensuring that third-party services also support HTTPS.
In general, the HTTPS protocol provides a more secure data transmission environment than the HTTP protocol, but it is also accompanied by higher overhead and implementation difficulty. However, given the importance of data security and privacy protection, as well as the trend of search engine optimization, migrating to HTTPS has become a common practice in Internet website construction.
1. Why use HTTPS protocol instead of HTTP protocol?
Using the HTTPS protocol provides higher security and data integrity, which is important to protect users' sensitive information and prevent data tampering. The HTTPS protocol uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) to encrypt and transmit data, making it difficult for the data to be stolen or tampered with during transmission.
2. How does the HTTPS protocol work?
In the HTTPS protocol, communication data between the client and server is encrypted and transmitted securely via SSL or TLS. When the client sends a request, the server will return a digital certificate, which will verify the server's identity. The client verifies the certificate's validity and uses the public key in the certificate to encrypt the data. After receiving the encrypted data, the server uses its own private key to decrypt the data and process and respond accordingly. This process ensures the security and integrity of communications.
3. What is the difference between HTTPS and HTTP protocols in search engine optimization?
When it comes to search engine optimization, using the HTTPS protocol can bring some additional benefits. First, search engines increasingly tend to rank HTTPS sites higher because they provide a more secure user experience. Secondly, the HTTPS protocol can reduce the risk of data tampering and theft, thereby improving the credibility of the website and user experience. Finally, using the HTTPS protocol can also display a green lock icon in the search results, improving the click-through rate and credibility of the website. Therefore, using the HTTPS protocol is a good choice for SEO.
I hope that the analysis by the editor of Downcodes can help you better understand the difference between HTTPS and HTTP protocols and choose the security protocol suitable for your website.