What Is HTTPS? Why Your Website Should Use HTTPS

As the Internet grows, security threats keep increasing. Today's users care not only about content but also, very much, about how safe it is to visit a website. So moving from HTTP to HTTPS is no longer an option; it has become a required standard for modern websites. So what is HTTPS, and why does this protocol matter for your website? Let MONA Media find out in detail in the article below.

What is the HTTP protocol?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundational protocol that lets browsers and servers communicate over the Internet. Thanks to HTTP, users can visit websites, view content and images, or do things online such as searching for information and shopping.

When you type a website address into your browser, the browser sends a request to the server over HTTP. The server then responds by sending back the corresponding data to display on screen. However, the limitation of HTTP is that data is sent unencrypted, making information easy to steal or tamper with in transit.

What is the HTTPS protocol?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of the HTTP protocol, used to transmit data safely over the Internet. It works on the basis of an SSL/TLS certificate, which encrypts all information exchanged between the browser and the server.

Thanks to encryption, data sent over HTTPS is protected from being stolen or tampered with. Only the sender and the receiving server can read the content. So HTTPS is especially important for websites that collect personal data, have account logins or process online transactions, giving users more peace of mind when visiting and using the service.

How does the HTTPS protocol work?

HTTPS was developed to fix HTTP's security weakness by encrypting data in transit. When a website uses HTTPS, all information exchanged between the browser and the server is protected by an SSL/TLS certificate, preventing third parties from stealing or tampering with data.

HTTPS works as follows:

• The user visits the website using an address that starts with HTTPS
• The browser sends a verification request and receives the SSL/TLS certificate from the server
• The server responds with SSL certificate along with the public key
• The browser uses the public key to encrypt the session key and sends it back to the server
• The server decrypts and confirms the session key and responds to the browser
• After successful authentication, both sides use the session key to exchange data securely

With this mechanism, HTTPS ensures data stays encrypted throughout transmission, making the website more trustworthy and better protecting user information.

How the client and server communicate over HTTPS

To establish a secure connection, communication between the browser (client) and the server over HTTPS goes through several authentication and encryption steps, instead of connecting directly as HTTP does. This mechanism ensures data is not stolen or tampered with in transit.

HTTPS communication happens in the following steps:

• The client sends an access request to a website whose address starts with https://
• The server responds by sending its SSL/TLS certificate to the client
• The browser checks the certificate's validity through the certificate authority (CA)
• Once the certificate is verified, the client creates a random session key
• This session key is encrypted with the public key in the certificate and sent to the server
• The server uses its private key to decrypt the session key
• From this point on, the client and server use the session key to encrypt and decrypt all data exchanged during the session

With this mechanism, HTTPS ensures information is transmitted safely, securely and reliably between users and the website.

HTTP vs HTTPS compared

HTTP and HTTPS are both protocols for transmitting data over the Internet, but the core difference is the level of security. HTTP sends data as plain text, which is easy to eavesdrop on or tamper with, while HTTPS adds an SSL/TLS encryption layer that keeps information safe throughout the exchange between browser and server. This is also why HTTPS has become a required standard for modern websites.

Table comparing the differences between HTTP and HTTPS

Why should your website use HTTPS?

As the Internet carries more and more security risks, users care not only about content but also put safety first when visiting a website. HTTPS has therefore become an essential standard that protects data, increases trust and improves the user experience. So why should every website, from personal to business, use HTTPS? Let's find out with MONA below!

The HTTPS protocol protects user information

HTTPS encrypts all data sent between the browser and the server, so bad actors cannot “eavesdrop” on or tamper with the information. As a result, everything you send, whether a login, a comment or an order, stays intact and cannot be read, altered or faked in transit.

Increase your website's credibility with users

Today, popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari all warn users when they visit websites that do not use HTTPS. These warnings aim to protect important information such as personal data, login details and payment cards from being stolen.
Users are the core factor that decides whether a website survives. If they feel unsafe visiting it, the chance they come back is almost zero. Using HTTPS with an SSL/TLS certificate not only secures data but also shows the website's commitment to credibility and professionalism, building trust and keeping users for the long term.

Using HTTPS plays an important role in SEO

Major search engines such as Google, Bing,… all place great weight on security and moved their whole systems to HTTPS very early. Google has also stated many times that websites using HTTPS have an advantage in search rankings. So if you are doing SEO and want your website to grow sustainably, moving to HTTPS as soon as possible should be a priority.

When a website has both HTTP and HTTPS versions, Google may treat them as duplicate content. This splits SEO strength, backlinks do not add up and search engines struggle to decide which version to rank. Without a proper 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS, the website can easily lose rankings, drop in traffic and lose the SEO value it has built up.

If you do not know where to start, the MONA team is ready to work with you. Full-scope SEO services combined with SEO AI at MONA provides full support, from technical website checks and structure optimization to building a content strategy suited to new search behavior. We help your website not only run reliably but also grow effectively in the AI era. Contact MONA for detailed advice today!

What should you keep in mind when using HTTPS?

Using the HTTPS protocol not only encrypts data and makes your website more secure, it is also today's standard. However, during implementation you need to watch a few technical points to avoid common errors that can reduce effectiveness or cause display problems.

Here is what you need to keep in mind:

• Always make sure your SSL/TLS certificate is valid and renewed on time
• Check that the certificate is registered for the correct domain, including both the www and non-www versions, to avoid certificate mismatch errors
• Make sure the server supports SNI and users' browsers are compatible, or use a dedicated IP if you need to support old browsers
• Do not block the HTTPS website in robots.txt; let search bots crawl the content normally
• Avoid using the noindex tag on important pages if you want the website indexed
• Update to and use the latest TLS versions to limit security vulnerabilities
• Only embed HTTPS content on HTTPS pages to avoid mixed content errors
• Make sure the content of the HTTP and HTTPS versions is the same when migrating
• Check that the correct HTTP status codes are returned, such as 200 for valid pages and 404 or 410 for pages that do not exist
• Following all of the points above will help your website use HTTPS more effectively, build trust with users and support SEO well in the long run.

Frequently asked questions about HTTPS

1, What should you do when your website shows a red-struck HTTPS error?

When the URL shows a red strikethrough on HTTPS, users will suspect the website is unsafe, which immediately hurts its credibility. The simple fix: buy an SSL certificate from a reputable provider such as MONA Media to restore trust and protect your website.

2, What should you do when your website shows a crossed-out HTTPS error?

Just like the red-struck HTTPS error, when your website shows a crossed-out HTTPS error, businesses should register the SSL for their website.

3, Is HTTPS free?

There are many free SSL providers such as Let’s Encrypt, but they usually only offer basic security and come without technical support.

4, Is it hard to switch from HTTP to HTTPS?

Switching from HTTP to HTTPS is not hard if you have experience: you just need to install SSL, configure the server and update the content correctly. For beginners the process can be a bit complex, but support tools can automate almost all of it, making the switch simple and safe.

This article has given you the basics of what the HTTPS protocol is, and pointed out the standout advantages of the HTTPS protocol. So now that you understand it, you should put essential security measures in place for your website, the main one being switching to the HTTPS protocol.

The information security that HTTPS provides will make your website not only safer and more professional but also more appealing to users.