Have you ever noticed that while some websites start with http://, others begin with https://?
Is it a mistake?
Are they same?
Is one better than the other?
Are these some of the questions that are currently running in your mind?
While http:// or https:// is both options for the start of the URL, there is an important difference that you may be missing out.
Back in 2014, Google recommended that sites switch from HTTP to HTTPS. It provides HTTPS websites with a minor ranking bump to give them an edge over their competitors who did not choose to use HTTPS.
Let’s begin with the basics before we compare the pros and cons.
What is HTTP?
HTTP is an abbreviation of HyperText Transfer Protocol. It offers a set of standards and rules that govern how information is transmitted on the WWW. It provides the web browsers and the servers with a set of standard rules.
HTTP uses hypertext structured text to establish a logical link between nodes containing text.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS is an abbreviation of HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. It is an advanced and secure version of HTTP. It uses port 443 to transfer its information. HTTPS allows secure transactions by encrypting the entire communication with SSL.
HTTPS is often used as a default protocol for conducting a financial transaction on the web.
Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS
The most important difference that separates HTTP from HTTPS is the SSL certificate. This additional security can be extremely important to protect the website and its crucial information from hackers.
But how do HTTPS works?
The SSL certificate encrypts the information supplied by the user to the website. So, instead of data, the information is transferred through codes. In simple words, if someone tries to hack the website and access the sensitive information, they will not be able to understand the information because it is encrypted.
It is easy for users to identify whether a site uses SSL certificate or not by looking at the URL. Websites that begin with https:// are more secure than websites that begin with http://.
Advantages of Switching to HTTPS
HTTPS has a big advantage over HTTP. Don’t you want your website to be as secure as possible? However, if you believe that as an online business you are not asking for any sensitive information from the customers, and thus it is not necessary to switch over from HTTP to HTTPS, you are mistaken.
Apart from the security advantage, HTTPS also helps boost your SEO efforts. Here are a few ways you can improve your search engine visibility by switching over to HTTPS.
Increase Ranking
HTTPS impacts your search ranking.
Moreover, Google itself announced that websites that will switch to HTTPS will receive a small bump in rankings.
Build Trust
As HTTPS websites encrypt all the communications, it protects the visitor’s sensitive information from being hacked. Moreover, it helps build trust among users, which is vital to close sales.
How To Switch From HTTP to HTTPS?
Are you interested to switch your website from HTTP to HTTPS?
At Concevoir Web Services we help you accomplish the task easily. We install and configure the SSL certificate on to your site’s hosting account and further perform a complete back-up of your website, in case something goes wrong.
If you have already switched your website to HTTPS, we’re curious to hear your experience? Share it with us in the comments below!
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