March 15, 2025

Techie Pilot

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A Proper Sketch About https vs ssl

You may have heard of HTTPS and SSL if you’ve been looking into ways to protect websites, but what are they, and how do they vary from one another?

Do HTTPS and SSL mean the same thing?  Do you really need two?

This article provides a comprehensive explanation of https vs ssl, as well as some background on TLS, the newest and most advanced form of SSL.

SSL: The Backstory

You may protect data in transit over the Internet with the use of an SSL certificate. The initials SSL stand for “Secure Socket Layer.” This is crucial because it ensures that malicious parties cannot steal information while it is in transit. Whether or not a website employs SSL encryption may be quickly and easily determined by checking the URL address bar in the top left of your browser for an SSL lock.

To see the specifications of the SSL certificate, click on the padlock symbol in the address bar. Both the website’s owner’s company name and the issuing authority must be included.

Who here needs an SSL certificate for their website?

You must obtain an SSL certificate if you provide products or services for sale online or if you gather personal information from clients. Even if you don’t, an SSL certificate demonstrates to Google that your business takes its online presence seriously and that you care about your clients’ security. Your site’s position in Google’s search results will rise as a consequence.

Do SSL Certificates Help Your Google Page Rank?

It’s true that Google rewards sites with secure connections by raising their search engine rankings. Google has taken SSL into account as a ranking signal since 2014.

Where is the safest place to purchase an SSL certificate online?

Your web server or the company that designed your website may sell you an SSL certificate. When shopping for SSL certificates, only trust those that originate from trustworthy providers.

HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (also known as HTTP Secure or HTTP over SSL) is a secure version of the hypertext transfer protocol HTTP. HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure is shortened to HTTPS. Since the inception of the internet, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) has been the de facto standard for global data transmission. Since anybody may view the sent data through an HTTP connection, the protocol is no longer considered secure. In contrast, the encrypted data delivered over HTTPS provides a safe method of transmitting information online.

HTTPS has been in use for some time; the combination of SSL with HTTP resulted in the current HTTPS protocol in 1994. Seventy percent of websites in the United States are now expected to have HTTPS enabled.

What does the HTTPS protocol really accomplish?

Using HTTPS might improve a website’s privacy and security. Its objective is to safeguard data sent over the internet from being intercepted by unauthorised parties. In addition to preventing malicious code injection, this functionality also prevents cybercriminals from gaining access to a website.

Conclusion: When comparing SSL vs HTTPS, what are the key differences?

When SSL or TLS is added to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the result is HTTPS, which is a secure protocol. It allows for encrypted communications and a secure web server identity. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol that encrypts data sent across a network, such as the Internet. In 1994, a working model was finally developed. There have been several SSL products released, and they have all improved upon their predecessors. TLS is the latest “version” of SSL.

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