HTTP vs. HTTPS
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Last Updated:
August 6, 2009 8:34 AM
HTTP, or hypertext transfer protocol, is the way a Web server communicates with browsers like Internet Explorer ® and Mozilla Firefox®. HTTP lets visitors view a site and send information back to the Web server.
HTTPS, hypertext transfer protocol secure, is HTTP through a secured connection. Communications through an HTTPS server are encrypted by a secure certificate known as an SSL. The encryption prevents third-parties from eavesdropping on communications to and from the server.
NOTE: Only servers that have their own SSL can create HTTPS connections. A site’s visitor cannot encrypt the connection.