● What is a HTTP? What is HTTPS?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted over the Internet.

HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It is the secure version of HTTP, the protocol over which data is sent between a browser and a website.

● What are the differences between HTTP and HTTPS?

The main difference between them is that HTTPS provides encryption for the communication between client and server, whereas HTTP does not. This prevents unauthorized parties from eavesdropping on or tampering with the communication. HTTPS uses SSL/TLS to provide a secure channel over an insecure network. This allows for secure authentication of the server and the protection of the communication contents from interception or modification.

● What are advantages of HTTP and HTTPS?

HTTP Pros:

○ Simple and universal protocol

○ No encryption overhead so pages load slightly faster

○ Supported by all browsers and servers by default

HTTPS Pros:

○ Encrypts communication to protect against eavesdropping and tampering

○ Authenticates website to prevent phishing

○ Protects sensitive information like passwords, payment details

○ Provides integrity check of data delivered

○ Minor performance overhead but negligible on modern connections

● What are limits of HTTP and HTTPS?

HTTP Cons:

○ No encryption of data in transit

○ Sensitive information like passwords transmitted in cleartext

○ Vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks

○ No verification of website authenticity

HTTPS Cons:

○ Requires an SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority

○ Slightly slower page loads due to encryption overhead

○ More complex to implement compared to plain HTTP

○ Does not hide metadata like IP addresses, domains visited

○ Does not prevent malware distribution or guarantee content validity

In summary, HTTP is simpler but insecure for sensitive data, while HTTPS provides security but at a small performance cost. Most websites now use HTTPS by default for enhanced privacy and security.