HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol – Secure) is the foundation of almost everything we do on the web. The idea of clicking a link and being taken somewhere else is what started the web in the first place.
The technology that made this possible was HTTP. The secure version of this protocol (HTTPS) uses a secure certificate to verify the identity of the web server you want to access. Each certificate is unique and only one web server can use it.
Your browser uses this certificate to make sure that you don’t unknowingly access an “imposter” web server that could mislead you into giving it sensitive information. How do you make sure your clients are secure when transmitting information over your website?
There are two main ways that website companies use to protect your data while it’s traveling the web; HTTPS authentication and SSL encryption.