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What does HTTPS mean?

When planning how to make your own website from scratch, it's important to make sure your site has HTTPS, in order to make sure it's secure. HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It's an internet communication protocol that protects the confidentiality and integrity of the data being sent between a user's browser and the website they're visiting.

Put simply, HTTPS is a more secure form of HTTP. Whereas HTTP sends the data in plain text, HTTPS encrypts it using a Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. This makes the data harder to intercept as it's transmitted from a user's browser to the web server hosting the website.

HTTPS is considered a standard security practice, and can help you build trust with site visitors. Here are a few key reasons why HTTPS is important for websites:

• Security: HTTPS prevents attackers from intercepting or manipulating the data being transferred between the user and website.

• Trust and credibility: Most modern browsers label HTTP sites as "not secure," which can make it harder to build trust with potential customers. HTTPS, on the other hand, shows as a padlock icon next to the URL, indicating to users that the site is secure.

• SEO benefits: Google takes HTTPS into account as a ranking factor, meaning that sites that use it may have an edge when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO).

How does HTTPS work?

HTTPS uses an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificate to encrypt the connection between a browser and a web server. The certificate ensures that the data transferred is encrypted and secure. When you visit an HTTPS site, your browser and the web server undergo a "handshake" to confirm that the certificate is valid, after which an encrypted connection is established.

SSL/TLS certificates can be obtained from a certificate authority (CA), which is a trusted organization that issues the certificates. When a browser visits an HTTPS website, it verifies the certificate to make sure it's valid and issued by a trusted CA.

What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?

The main difference between HTTP and HTTPS is security. HTTP is a protocol that transfers data in plain text, which makes it vulnerable to eavesdropping and attacks. In contrast, HTTPS encrypts the data with an SSL/TLS certificate, so even if attackers intercept the data, they can't read it.

Here's a quick breakdown of the differences between HTTP vs HTTPS:

HTTP:

• Doesn't use encryption

• Doesn't protect confidentiality of data

• Labeled as "Not Secure" in Google Chrome

• Sends data as plain text

HTTPS:

• Uses SSL/TLS encryption

• Protects confidentiality of data

• Shows a padlock icon in the URL bar

• Encrypts data before sending it

How to get HTTPS for your website

The easiest way to enable HTTPS for your website is by using a web hosting service that provides an SSL/TLS certificate for you. Wix, for example, provides a free SSL certificate for all sites hosted with Wix. You simply need to enable HTTPS in your site's settings.

If you are using a web hosting service that doesn't provide SSL/TLS certificates, you can obtain one from a CA such as Let's Encrypt, which offers free SSL/TLS certificates. Once you have obtained your certificate, you'll need to install it on your web server.