HTTP is Going Down the Drain

Source: Pixabay

More and more websites these days are converting from HTTP to HTTPS. Websites that don't switch their security protocol to https will no longer be indexed by Google anymore, but why does HTTP have to go ?

Security is Mandatory

Hypertext Transfer Protocol or HTTP in short is as old as the internet itself. When the first websites started to come online, HTTP was already handling traffic between a person's browsers and the server it was connecting to. HTTP also adds a security layer on top of the TCP (Transmission Control Protocols) which like HTTP regulates internet traffic between browser and server. But HTTP is getting outdated so in the mean time software engineers have written a new and safer version now known as HTPPS. The new protocol encrypts some parts of the data that travels between computer and internet. The 2.048-bit encryption makes it utterly difficult for hackers to intercept data traffic.

Source: Pixabay

Cyber Attacks from Diffirent Angles

HTTPS prevents cyber-attacks from diffirent angles as they increase day after day. Non HTTPS websites where the input of sensitive data is not required are particularly vulnerable. Criminals can track down somebody and collect information based on the victim's surfing habbits on these sites. With the collected information hackers are able to make up a profile to benefit from the person's weak spots. Crossing over to HTTPS cancels out another kind of hazard which is called the man in the middle attack. Such an attack consists of intercepting communication between a financial website and its client. HTTPS prevents the attacker from altering intercepted data and to steal login information. Spammers do not like HTTPS either as they want you to click on fake e-mails. Those fake mails are composed of personal information collected from websites without HTPPS protection. There are enough reasons to make the switch to the HTPPS standard on a worldwide scale. But there are two important drawbacks to keep in mind. The first one is money, indeed the crossover will be a pricy one. The second drawback is the fact that some webmasters too are against it, as they complain that the complex encryptions within HTPPS slows down their websites.

Source: Pixabay

Google Motivates

Webmasters who are willing to convert to HTTPS aren't necesarily doing it out of precaution. Three years ago Google made a statement saying that HTTPS is making the internet a whole lot safer. To motivate Google promised to all webmasters a higher ranking in the search results for their websites if they would adopt the HTTPS system. Owners of e-commerce websites didn't think twice when they heard that. Especially when you know that potential customers only click on the first 4 results after they search for something in Google. Not to forget to mention the apps where webcontent is being displayed, developers of these apps have to adapt like everybody else. The newest mobile operating systems like iOS 10.2 and Android Nougat want to receive encrypted webcontend only. Six months ago Google sent out a final message to webmasters, stating that websites who still rely on HTTP will be considered unsafe by Google Chrome.

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