HTTPS — what is it?
If you have already dealt with creating your own website, you have probably heard of SSL certificates and HTTPS. In this article we explain what they are and why a website needs HTTPS.
Incredible but true: every action on the internet is an exchange of data. When you open your favourite website, search for a YouTube video or upload a picture to Instagram, your browser and the server exchange information. Every search query travels from you, the user, to the server and back. This communication is made possible by the protocol HTTP. It was invented in the early 1990s. HTTP works well except for one thing: it does not encrypt data. A third party can therefore intercept them easily, and attackers can steal personal information such as passwords, bank card numbers, payment details and passport data.
Data protection is fundamentally important in today's world. This is why HTTPS was introduced: a secure connection protocol. HTTPS works by exchanging encryption keys. Before answering a browser request, the server presents a key — an SSL certificate. The browser checks its authenticity with the certification authority. If the key is accepted, the browser and server trust each other and agree on a one-time cipher. This happens in each session, whenever requests and responses are exchanged. This is how data security and confidentiality are maintained during information exchange.
HTTP or HTTPS? That is the question!
Protecting a website with HTTPS has long been a necessity rather than merely good practice. Although some websites still use HTTP connections, HTTPS will very soon become an essential requirement of internet “ecology”.
Since July 2018, Google has considered every website that does not use HTTPS insecure. When a user opens an HTTP page, they see a warning sign in the address bar:
No secure connection. How will this affect a business?
- The warning may deter users from visiting the website.
- Search engines do not trust websites without HTTPS, making SEO work more difficult.
- Attackers may steal data from the website.
In addition, WordPress and other popular content management systems have announced that some features will now only be available to websites using HTTPS.
Why a website needs an SSL certificate
An SSL certificate is required for a website to use the secure HTTPS connection protocol. It is a virtual document containing information about an organisation and its owner and confirming their existence. It allows the server to be identified and the website's security confirmed.
Using a website security certificate guarantees:
- Authenticity of the resource the user accesses. This increases visitors' trust.
- Integrity of transmitted information. Data will not be changed or lost while travelling from the server to the browser.
- Confidentiality. 256-bit encryption prevents attackers from accessing information.
What does an SSL certificate offer besides data protection? It helps a project's SEO promotion by allowing a higher position in search results. Search engines such as Google and Yandex value their audience's trust and rank websites using secure connections more highly.
Types of SSL certificates
There are three types of SSL certificates, classified by the level of verification:
Entry-level certificates with Domain Validation (DV)
Only domain ownership is checked when issuing this type of SSL certificate. This is the only type available to individuals; legal entities can also obtain it. After a secure connection is enabled, a distinctive padlock appears in the browser address bar, indicating secure data transmission.
Business-class certificates with Organization Validation (OV) or Company Validation (CV)
Besides domain ownership, the organisation's legal and physical existence is verified when issuing this certificate. This type is available only to legal entities. Clicking the padlock in the address bar displays company information.
Certificates with Extended Validation (EV)
This type of SSL is also available only to legal entities. Documents must be submitted to the certification authority. Both the organisation's existence and its lawful activities are checked. In addition to the padlock, a certification authority trust seal and company information are displayed in the address bar.
Notes for website owners
Expert opinions, useful advice and recommendations — everything that helps avoid mistakes when creating and using a website.
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