SSL, TLS, HTTP, HTTPS Explained

Summary

This video explains the difference between HTTP and HTTPS, emphasizing the security risks of HTTP, which sends data in clear text. It introduces HTTPS as a secure version of HTTP that encrypts data to protect it from hackers. The video also covers SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security), protocols that use encryption to secure data. SSL certificates authenticate websites, ensuring they are trustworthy. The importance of HTTPS has grown due to Google's push to prioritize secure sites in search rankings, making HTTPS the default for most websites.

Takeaways

• 😀 HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol used for accessing websites on the internet.
• 🔒 Standard HTTP sends all data in clear text, which makes it vulnerable to hackers who can intercept and steal sensitive information.
• 💻 HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol) encrypts data, making it unreadable to unauthorized parties and protecting sensitive information.
• 🔐 The 'S' in HTTPS and the padlock icon in the address bar indicate that the website is secure and using encryption.
• 🕵️‍♂️ SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that uses public key encryption to secure data exchanged between the computer and the web server.
• 🔑 SSL works by having the web server send an SSL certificate to authenticate its identity to the browser, ensuring trust before exchanging encrypted data.
• 🛡 TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the successor to SSL, offering improved security and is the current industry standard for internet encryption.
• 🌐 More websites are adopting HTTPS by default, even when no sensitive data is involved, due to security standards and Google’s penalties for non-secure sites.
• 📉 Google flags websites without SSL as 'not secure,' which can negatively impact their search rankings, motivating sites to implement HTTPS.
• 💼 If you own a website, getting an SSL certificate is essential for security and to ensure that your site is trusted and protected online.

Q & A

What is HTTP and how is it used on the internet?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the protocol used for transferring data on the internet, particularly for viewing web pages. When you visit a website, HTTP is used to retrieve and display the page in your web browser.

What are the vulnerabilities of HTTP?

HTTP transmits data in clear text, making it vulnerable to interception by hackers. This is especially dangerous when sensitive information such as passwords or credit card details is being transmitted.

How does HTTPS improve upon HTTP?

HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol) adds security to HTTP by encrypting the data transferred between the client and server. This encryption ensures that sensitive information cannot be read or intercepted by hackers.

What is the significance of the 'S' in HTTPS?

The 'S' in HTTPS stands for 'secure,' indicating that the website is using a secure connection. It signifies that data is being encrypted during transfer, providing additional security compared to standard HTTP.

How can users identify secure websites?

Secure websites that use HTTPS are indicated by a padlock symbol in the address bar of most web browsers. Additionally, the URL will start with 'https://' rather than 'http://'.

What is SSL and how does it work?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that uses public key encryption to secure data transmission over the internet. When a browser connects to a website using SSL, the server provides an SSL certificate for authentication, ensuring that the site is trustworthy.

What is the role of the SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate is a small digital file used to authenticate the identity of a website. It helps the browser verify that the website is legitimate, which builds trust between the user and the site.

What happens during an SSL handshake?

During the SSL handshake, the client’s browser requests identification from the web server. The server responds by sending its SSL certificate. If the browser trusts the certificate, an encrypted connection is established and data can be securely exchanged.

What is TLS, and how does it differ from SSL?

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the successor to SSL and is the latest cryptographic protocol used to secure data. While both SSL and TLS provide encryption and authentication, TLS is considered more secure and is the current industry standard.

Why is HTTPS becoming the default for many websites?

Many websites now use HTTPS by default because it provides better security and privacy for users. Additionally, Google flags websites without SSL as 'not secure,' which can harm their search engine rankings, encouraging website owners to adopt HTTPS.