HTTPS Encryption Explained for Beginners: What It Is & Why It Matters

In today’s digital world, HTTPS encryption plays a crucial role in keeping our online activities safe. Whether you’re shopping, banking, or simply browsing the web, HTTPS ensures that the information you share is protected from hackers eyes.

Unlike its predecessor, HTTP, HTTPS encryption provides a secure connection between your browser and the website, ensuring that sensitive data — like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details — stays private.

In this article, we’ll dive into how HTTPS encryption works, why it’s important for both your online security and trust, and the benefits it brings to website owners and users alike.

Components of the Internet: Client and Server

Before we understand how HTTPS encryption work, let’s break down the basic communication between two key components on the internet:

• Client (User): This is you—the person who is using the internet or browser.

  
  

• Server: This is the machine that hosts a website, which can be a web server like Nginx or Apache.

When you, as the client, wish to communicate with a server, you send a GET request to the server, and the server responds with data. In a non-secure system, this data is unencrypted, which leaves it vulnerable to interception by attackers, also known as a man-in-the-middle attack.

The Risk of Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

The main problem of without having HTTPS encryption is man-in-the-middle attack. In the scenario of unencrypted communication, any third party (a hacker) can sniff the traffic between the client and the server. This leads to data breaches, where sensitive information like passwords or personal details can be stolen.

To solve this problem, we need to encrypt the communication between the client and the server.

How Do We Encrypt Data?

There are two types of encryption mechanisms used for securing data:

1. Symmetric Encryption: In symmetric encryption, both the client and the server use the same key to encrypt and decrypt data. However, the challenge lies in securely exchanging this key. If the key is intercepted by an attacker, the encryption becomes compromised.

2. Asymmetric Encryption: This is where SSL comes into play. Asymmetric encryption uses two keys: a public key and a private key.

   • Public Key: This key is shared openly and can encrypt data.

   • Private Key: This key is kept secret and is used to decrypt data encrypted with the corresponding public key.

By using asymmetric encryption, we can ensure that data is encrypted in such a way that even if an attacker intercepts the transmission, they cannot decrypt the data without the private key.

What Is HTTP?

HyperText Transfer Protocol, or HTTP, is the way of data communication on the web. When you visit or opens a website, your browser(means client) uses HTTP to request data from a server and display it on your screen.

For example, when you type a URL like http://techytechs.in, your browser reaches out to that server and downloads the website’s content.

But there is problem here, so what is the problem?👇

The Security Limitations of HTTP

Imagine you’re at a coffee shop, sitting on a public Wi-Fi network, and you decide to log into your online bank account. You open the website, and the URL starts with HTTP://. Since the website is using HTTP (and not HTTPS), all the information you send — like your username, password, and even sensitive financial transactions — is sent in plain text (without encryption).

Here’s the problem: since the connection isn’t encrypted, someone else on the same public Wi-Fi network can use special tools to intercept that unencrypted data. It’s like someone standing over your shoulder, reading your banking details and even stealing your password.

So, if you’re not careful and the website isn’t using HTTPS (which encrypts that information), your sensitive data could easily fall into the wrong hands.

Always remember: While HTTP is useful for transferring information, it lacks a critical security feature. Any data transmitted over HTTP is sent in plain text. This means that anyone intercepting the communication (like a hacker on public Wi-Fi) can see everything — including passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details.

So to get rid of this problem, we use HTTPS. But what exactly is HTTPS?👇

What Is HTTPS?

HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s the secure version of HTTP, the protocol that powers the web. The key difference is that HTTPS uses encryption to protect the data being sent between your browser and the website’s server. This encryption is achieved through SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) protocols, which ensure that any data transmitted is kept private and secure.

When a website uses HTTPS, it means that the data you send (like login credentials, personal details, and credit card information) is encrypted and protected from hackers eyes. Even if someone tries to intercept the communication on a public Wi-Fi network, they wouldn’t be able to read your data, because it’s encrypted.

How Does HTTPS Work?

1. Encryption/HTTPS Encryption: It encrypts the data before it’s sent, so it’s unreadable by anyone trying to intercept it.

2. Authentication: HTTPS ensures that the website you’re connecting to is actually the website it claims to be (through SSL certificates). This helps protect against phishing attacks where malicious websites try to impersonate legitimate ones.

3. Integrity: It ensures that the data sent and received hasn’t been tampered with during transmission. If any part of the data gets modified, the connection will be broken.

So, whenever you see HTTPS in the URL (the “S” stands for “Secure“), you know that your connection is encrypted and your data is safe from hackers trying to steal your information.

How Does SSL Encryption Work?

Let’s walk through how SSL encryption secures data between the client and server:

1. Key Exchange: The server sends its public key to the client.

2. Symmetric Key Generation: The client generates a random symmetric key (used for encrypting the data) and encrypts this symmetric key using the server’s public key.

3. Data Encryption: Once the symmetric key is securely exchanged, both the client and the server can use it to encrypt and decrypt the actual data they send to each other.

The Role of SSL Certificates for HTTPS Encryption

Think of an SSL certificate like a passport for a website, and TLS as the modern security protocol that ensures the safe and private handling of your data, much like a border officer carefully inspecting and processing that passport at the border.

1. You’re Visiting a Website:

You decide to visit your bank’s website. When you look at the URL, you see HTTPS (instead of just HTTP), along with a small padlock icon. This indicates that the website is using a secure connection, which is made possible by an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate.

2. SSL/TLS Certificate Acts Like a Passport:

Just like a passport identifies you at a border checkpoint, an SSL/TLS certificate proves that the website you’re visiting is legitimate. When you connect to the website, your browser checks the SSL/TLS certificate to make sure it’s valid. The certificate contains:

• The public key (for encrypting the data),

• The website’s identity, and

• A digital signature from a trusted certificate authority (CA), verifying that the website is authentic.

While SSL was the original protocol used for this purpose, TLS (Transport Layer Security) is now the more modern and secure version of SSL, which has replaced SSL over time due to improvements in security. In fact, when you see “SSL/TLS” or just “SSL” today, most of the time it’s actually TLS that’s in use, but the term SSL is still widely used.

3. Establishing a Secure, Encrypted Connection:

Once your browser confirms the authenticity of the certificate (just like the border officer checking your passport), a secure, encrypted connection is established using TLS. This means that any sensitive information you send to the website — such as your login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal details — is encrypted (like locking it in a secure vault). Even if someone tries to intercept this data, they won’t be able to read it.

4. TLS — The Modern Security Standard:

While SSL was once the gold standard for securing internet connections, it’s now outdated and considered less secure. TLS has taken over, providing better encryption and stronger protection against potential vulnerabilities. Even though SSL is still a commonly used term, most secure websites are actually using TLS to encrypt the data.

5. Trust is Built:

Just like you trust a border guard to check your passport at the border, your browser trusts the SSL/TLS certificate to verify the website’s authenticity. Once the certificate is verified and a secure connection is made, you can confidently enter sensitive information, knowing that the communication is private and secure.

Without SSL/TLS Certificate (No Passport):

If a website doesn’t have an SSL/TLS certificate, it’s like trying to cross a border without showing any proof of identity. There’s no guarantee that the website is trustworthy, and your connection remains unprotected. In this case, there is no https encryption and  hackers could easily intercept and read your data (such as passwords, personal information, or credit card details) if you’re on an unprotected or public Wi-Fi network.

How HTTPS Encryption Works:

When you visit a website secured with HTTPS, your browser and the server on the website perform an SSL/TLS handshake. This is like a conversation between the two, where they agree on how to communicate securely. Here’s a simplified explanation:

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Step 1: Browser Requests a Secure Connection

Imagine you’re entering a bank. When you approach the bank’s entrance, you might request permission to enter, making sure it’s safe. Similarly, when you visit an HTTPS website, your browser sends a message to the server, saying, “I want to establish a secure, encrypted connection with you.”

This is the browser asking the server to start the SSL/TLS handshake.

Step 2: Server Sends SSL Certificate

In the same way a bank security guard shows you the bank’s credentials (like their security measures, or a badge) to prove they are legitimate, the server sends its SSL certificate to your browser. This certificate contains:

• The public key: Used for encryption.

• The website’s identity information: To confirm that the website is who it says it is.

• Certificate Authority (CA): Trusted third parties that vouch for the authenticity of the server (like a government issuing passports).

This step ensures the website is legitimate, just like checking the guard’s ID when you enter the bank.

Step 3: Verification and Key Exchange

At this point, your browser verifies the SSL certificate. It checks with a trusted third-party, the Certificate Authority (CA), to make sure the certificate is valid. If everything looks good, your browser proceeds with the encryption process.

Now, your browser uses the public key from the server’s certificate to encrypt a session key, a temporary key used to encrypt the actual communication. Think of this as agreeing on a shared secret code with the bank’s security guard before you start chatting.

Example: Imagine you and the bank’s guard agree to speak in a special code that no one else understands. This “code” is the session key.

Step 4: Encrypted Communication Begins

Once the session key is created, the encrypted communication begins. The session key encrypts all the data exchanged between your browser and the website’s server. This means that even if a hacker is spying on the connection, they can’t understand the data because it’s encrypted.

The encrypted communication ensures that sensitive information like credit card numbers and personal details stays safe during transmission, much like a bank guard ensures your sensitive conversations are heard only by the intended party.

Public and Private Keys:

HTTPS encryption uses a method called asymmetric encryption, involving two keys:

1. Public Key: This key is shared openly. Think of it like a mailbox that anyone can send messages to.

2. Private Key: This key is kept secret by the server. It’s like a locked mailbox only the server can open.

How does this work?

• When your browser wants to send data, it uses the public key to encrypt it.

• Only the server can decrypt the data because only the server has the corresponding private key.

This ensures that only the website you are communicating with can read the information you send, keeping it safe from others (like hackers).

Why HTTPS Encryption Is Important

1. Protects Sensitive Data:

   • When you’re shopping online or entering sensitive details, HTTPS ensures that your credit card numbers, bank login credentials, and personal details are encrypted and safe from eavesdroppers.

   • Real-Life Example: When you’re checking out at an online store, HTTPS keeps your credit card information safe from hackers who might try to steal it while it’s being sent over the internet.

2. Builds User Trust:

   • When users see a padlock icon next to the website URL in their browser’s address bar, they know the site is secure. This builds trust with visitors and encourages them to make purchases or enter personal details.

   • Example: You’re more likely to trust a website with a padlock (HTTPS) than one without it (HTTP). Think of it like a store that has clear security measures (CCTV, security personnel) versus one that doesn’t.

3. Prevents Data Tampering:

   • HTTPS ensures that data transferred between your browser and the server hasn’t been tampered with.

   • Example: If you’re transferring money to a friend, HTTPS guarantees that no one can alter the amount or the account details during the transaction. The data is sent securely without anyone being able to change it in transit.

HTTPS and SEO Benefits

Search engines like Google favor websites that use HTTPS. This has several SEO benefits:

1. Improved Search Rankings: Google has confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking factor. This means websites with HTTPS are more likely to rank higher in search results.

2. Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR): Users are more likely to click on a secure link (with HTTPS) because it signals trustworthiness.

3. Better User Experience: When users see the “Not Secure” warning on HTTP sites, they may hesitate to submit personal details. HTTPS avoids this issue, providing a safer browsing experience.

   • Example: Imagine you search for a website and Google shows you two options—one with HTTPS (secure) and one without (not secure). Most people will click the HTTPS link because they trust it more, boosting the secure site’s traffic.

Why Are SSL Certificates Important?

SSL certificates are crucial for a few reasons:

1. Data Integrity: They ensure that the data sent and received has not been tampered with during transmission.

2. Authentication: They verify that the website is legitimate and owned by the entity it claims to represent.

3. Confidentiality: They protect sensitive data from being intercepted by attackers.

Without an SSL certificate, the communication between the client and the server would be vulnerable to attacks, and users would be at risk of their sensitive data being stolen.

Creating Self-Signed Certificates

While SSL certificates signed by trusted CAs (like Let’s Encrypt) provide full security and trust, you can also create self-signed certificates for your own use. These certificates aren’t verified by a CA, so browsers will display a warning, but they can still be useful for testing or internal use, such as on a local development server. 

To create a self-signed certificate, you can use tools like OpenSSL. However, keep in mind that without a trusted CA signature, your certificate will not be recognized as secure by most browsers.

How to Check for HTTPS

When you’re browsing, always ensure that the website uses HTTPS before entering personal details.

Look for:

• A padlock icon in the browser’s address bar.

• URLs that start with “https://”.

Avoid entering sensitive information on websites that only use HTTP, especially on public Wi-Fi, as they are not encrypted and expose you to the risk of data interception.

Real-Life Example:

Imagine you’re logging into your email account from a coffee shop’s public Wi-Fi. You need to ensure that the site uses HTTPS before entering your login credentials. If it’s HTTP, your password could be intercepted by hackers sitting nearby. But with HTTPS., the data is encrypted, and your login details stay safe from hacker eyes.

Conclusion

HTTPS encryption technology is essential for protecting data, building trust, and improving online visibility. Whether you’re a website owner or a casual internet user, understanding how HTTPS works helps you stay safer online. Always check for that padlock before sharing any sensitive information.

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