What Does HTTPS Mean? Definition, Benefits & Online Security

You’ve probably seen HTTPS so many times that it’s almost meaningless — but the opposite couldn’t be more true. Understanding what HTTPS explained really means is essential for anyone who cares about online security. Today, we’ll teach you about why HTTPS is far superior to HTTP in terms of cybersecurity, plus show you how to further boost your privacy online in conjunction with a VPN provider.

How do we know what’s safe on the internet or if sites are secure when we make payments or put personal information online? Today we’ll give you a full HTTPS explained breakdown and tell you what the https meaning is and why it’s different from HTTP. We’ll also answer the question “how does HTTPS work” and how it keeps you safe.

HTTP makes the internet run. Every computer and every device that goes online takes advantage of this decades-old protocol to send and receive data with servers located around the world. It’s such an intricate part of our online experience that we often forget the letters are at the beginning of every website address.

In recent years a modified version of HTTP has been gaining popularity. HTTPS secures the normally raw, open data transmitted by HTTP, allowing servers and clients to communicate with a level of guaranteed privacy. Today, HTTPS is the default expectation across the web — major browsers actively flag plain HTTP pages as “Not Secure,” and the vast majority of mainstream websites now serve content over HTTPS as standard practice. It’s great news for privacy advocates and casual web surfers alike.

The details of SSL connections and cryptography keys is enough to make anyone’s head spin. Getting HTTPS explained in plain terms — and grasping the full https meaning — doesn’t take a computer science degree, however. Keep reading for a brief explanation of HTTPS and how it makes all of our online lives safer and more secure.

HTTP and HTTPS Explained: How the Internet Works

Anybody who’s ever used the internet is familiar with those four letters. HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, a distributed system of communication that links code together to make the internet function. In essence, HTTP coordinates the exchange of all the bits of code that create the internet, everything from HTML websites to PHP pages, Javascript, and beyond. Whenever you load a web page, HTTP ensures you get the data you requested and that it all makes sense to your computer.

To get a little more technical, HTTP transfers data using TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), another protocol that forms the foundation of the web. Data is broken into packets before being sent, each of which is stamped with your computer’s IP address, which functions a lot like a mailing address. Through HTTP sending data via TCP, your online activity gets broken down, sent into the world, then brought back and re-assembled in your web browser.

The Problem with HTTP: It Isn’t Secure

HTTP was developed in 1989 and has formed the backbone of the internet ever since. It’s fast and efficient and does its job quite well, but there’s one major shortcoming a lot of users have started to worry about in recent years.

HTTP is inherently unsecure. Everything the protocol sends and receives is done in plain text format, making it extraordinarily easy to intercept. There’s nothing built into HTTP that prevents any random computer from taking a look at what’s being transferred. It’s a lot like having a telephone conversation in a crowded room. Everybody can hear what you’re saying, all they have to do is start listening.

The risks go well beyond simple eavesdropping, though. HTTP fails to protect users in three important ways: confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. On a public Wi-Fi network — like the one at a coffee shop or airport — anyone on the same network can intercept your unencrypted HTTP traffic and read it directly. More worryingly, an attacker positioned between you and the server (known as an on-path or man-in-the-middle attacker) can not only read your data but silently modify it in transit — changing the content of a page you’re loading, injecting malicious code, or redirecting you without your knowledge. And because HTTP has no mechanism to verify the identity of the server you’re talking to, there is no reliable way to confirm you’re actually communicating with the real website rather than an imposter. HTTPS addresses all three of these problems: it encrypts traffic to preserve confidentiality, uses cryptographic checksums to detect any tampering in transit, and relies on digital certificates to verify that you’re connected to the genuine site.

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HTTPS Explained: Making HTTP Secure

Once you have HTTPS explained clearly, it becomes obvious why this protocol matters so much. HTTPS works in fundamentally the same way as HTTP, but that “S” on the end makes a huge difference for the end user. The S stands for Secure, and it’s shorthand for a method of sending HTTP requests with a layer of SSL/TLS security on top, encrypting the data to prevent eavesdroppers. Even if someone intercepted packets they wouldn’t be able to break the encryption or read the information, making HTTPS an extremely effective method of securing internet traffic.

Let’s break the above statement down a little bit. TLS stands for Transport Layer Security. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, which is the predecessor of TLS. Both are frequently referred to as SSL and are widely used cryptographic protocols that provide an easy method of adding encryption to a variety of activities. It’s also used by VoIP programs to authenticate transmissions, web browsers to secure data, and VPNs to create makeshift network tunnels to quickly secure user traffic.

It’s worth being clear about the terminology here: when you see “SSL certificate” or “SSL encryption” on a modern website, what’s actually running under the hood is TLS. SSL itself is obsolete and has been deprecated — no current browser or server should be using it. The active standards today are TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3, with TLS 1.3 being the most current and offering both improved security and faster connection setup. “SSL” has simply persisted as shorthand in everyday language even though the protocol it refers to is long retired.

When incorporated into HTTPS, SSL acts as an encryption companion that secures and verifies everything the HTTP protocol is transmitting. SSL essentially rides along with each packet of data and decrypts it only when it reaches its intended destination. The server and the computer handle everything exactly as before, but if a third party picks up any of the packets, they won’t be able to decrypt the data.

How HTTPS Works — HTTPS Explained Step by Step

Now that you’ve got a basic background on the https meaning, let’s look at what goes on during a typical HTTPS session. Before any of your browsing data is exchanged, your browser and the server must complete a TLS handshake — a short back-and-forth negotiation that establishes a secure, authenticated channel. Here is what actually happens, in order:

1. ClientHello – Your browser opens the conversation by sending a ClientHello message to the server. This message is sent in plain text and contains the TLS versions your browser supports, a list of cipher suites (the combinations of encryption and hashing algorithms it can use), and some random data used later in the key derivation process.
2. ServerHello and certificate – The server responds with its own ServerHello, selecting the TLS version and cipher suite it will use from the options the browser offered. Along with this, the server sends its digital certificate — issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) — which contains the server’s public key and identity information such as the domain name it belongs to.
3. Certificate validation – Your browser checks the server’s certificate against a built-in list of trusted certificate authority roots. It verifies that the certificate is valid, has not expired, has not been revoked, and was genuinely issued for the domain you’re trying to reach. If any of these checks fail, your browser will warn you rather than proceeding. Note that in standard HTTPS, only the server presents a certificate — the client does not.
4. Key exchange and session key derivation – Using the server’s public key and the random values exchanged in the hello messages, the browser and server perform a cryptographic key exchange (such as Diffie-Hellman). This process allows both sides to independently arrive at the same shared session key without that key ever being transmitted across the network. Nobody intercepting the handshake can reconstruct it.
5. Encrypted connection begins – With a shared session key now established on both sides, the TLS handshake is complete. From this point forward, all HTTP data — your requests, the server’s responses, cookies, form submissions, and everything else — travels encrypted using that session key. Only your browser and the server can decrypt it.

All of these steps with certificate validation and key exchange may seem like a lot of extra work, but they happen in milliseconds and are essential to guaranteeing that you are talking to the real server, that nobody in the middle can read your data, and that nothing has been tampered with in transit. Once the TLS portion is complete, HTTP steps in and does its thing. Data is broken into packets, labeled with your IP address, stuffed inside the encrypted TLS envelope and sent along their way. The process is completed thousands of times for each request, and it happens in a fraction of a second.

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HTTPS Explained: What Your Browser Is Telling You

You’ve probably seen your browser display a little padlock icon in the URL bar from time to time. This simply means the site is secured with HTTPS. It normally happens with sites that legitimately collect private data, such as credit card information for online shopping, passwords for checking your e-mail, or anything involving banking or financial transactions. More and more websites are using HTTPS these days, however, which is great for online privacy in general.

HTTPS is done on the server’s side. In other words, you can’t force a site to use HTTPS if its servers aren’t set up to handle it. Many websites will only switch to HTTPS if your browser specifically demands it, and others will load unsecured content within HTTPS pages, which defeats the purpose entirely.

The good news is that modern browsers now do a great deal of this work for you automatically. All major browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari — flag any plain HTTP page with a “Not Secure” warning in the address bar, making it immediately obvious when a site isn’t using encryption. Most browsers also include an HTTPS-First or HTTPS-Only mode in their settings, which instructs the browser to always attempt a secure connection before falling back to HTTP. Rather than relying on a third-party extension, the best practice today is to enable your browser’s built-in HTTPS upgrade setting and always confirm that the address bar shows https:// before entering any personal information.

FULL GUIDE: Best browser extensions

VPN Encryption versus HTTPS Explained

The word “encryption” is used a lot these days. At its core, encryption refers to using cryptography to generate incredibly complex mathematical puzzles that lock information packets in an unbreakable box. That box can only be opened with an equally complex cipher key, which is generated when the data packets are encrypted in the first place. There are a number of different encryption processes used in the modern internet, but the basic idea behind them is roughly the same.

Virtual private networks are always discussed in relation to the encryption they provide. In short, a VPN runs on your local device and encrypts everything before it’s sent through the internet. Some providers even offer layered VPN encryption for added privacy by routing traffic through multiple servers. Data packets are unreadable as they travel to your ISP and to the VPN’s servers. At this point your local IP address is removed and replaced with an IP address associated with the VPN, making tasks like Kuwait location spoofing possible, helping you get Latvian IP when you need to browse as though you’re in another country, or connect through a Polish IP location or use Colombian IP routing for region-specific access.

The VPN carries out the data request on your behalf, then returns the information to your computer. The entire process takes place under the protection of encryption, and it also removes identifying data so it’s impossible to trace activity back to your computer.

HTTPS protocols and virtual private networks may sound similar, but in reality they’re two different technologies that attack the same problem from different angles. Once you have HTTPS explained fully, you can better appreciate how each tool serves a distinct purpose. VPNs secure all traffic between your computer and the internet. They also anonymize data to make it harder to trace your online activity.

HTTPS only secures traffic between one website and your computer, with no measures taken to add anonymity. Even if you’re accessing a site secured with HTTPS, a VPN offers extra features to keep your data safe. For those seeking comprehensive protection beyond encryption, an online identity review can help identify and remove personal information exposed across the web.

How to Choose a Secure VPN

HTTPS does an amazing job securing the connection between your device and a single website. Not all sources are protected by this server-side encryption, however, and even when they are there’s a chance an unsecured link can find its way into the site and threaten your privacy. To keep your online activity secure, you should always use a VPN alongside what you’ve learned from having HTTPS explained above.

Choosing the right VPN seems like a complicated process. There are all sorts of features to compare, prices to consider, encryption strengths to contrast, and so on. If secure streaming is part of your privacy checklist, comparing CNBC privacy VPNs can also help narrow your options. If you’re wondering what to use now that Google One VPN ended, the criteria below can help you compare alternatives for secure online browsing. We’ve also included a few recommendations to help get you started.

• Encryption strength – The complexity of a VPN’s encryption protocols can make a big difference in your privacy. Most providers deliver 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption, which is perfect for almost all online activities. When evaluating providers, it’s worth reading an Urban VPN encryption review or similar assessments to understand how different services stack up in terms of security standards.
• Logging policy – All of your traffic passes through a VPN’s servers. If the company keeps detailed logs, there’s a chance your data could be given to a third party or government agency. The best VPNs with strict privacy have strict zero-logging policies that keep your info safe no matter what.
• Software support – To take advantage of a VPN, you need to run it on every device that connects to the internet. Most VPN services offer custom software for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and everything in-between. Make sure your devices are covered before signing up.
• Speed – A downside to encryption is that it adds data to each packet of information, effectively slowing your connection. The best VPNs work around this limitation to provide fast downloads without sacrificing privacy.

Most Powerful VPNs for Safer Browsing

Conducting your own market research can be exhausting, but when you’re looking for VPNs, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We’ve spent years researching and writing about VPNs, and the following providers stand out as the most secure for your money. For a detailed analysis of another popular option, check out our Avast VPN review.

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is the most reliable VPN overall, with two outstanding features: a large server network, and lightning fast speeds. NordVPN operates over 5,800 servers in 59 countries, twice the size of most VPNs. This gives you a wide variety of options for selecting out-of-country IP addresses, including the best Armenia servers and Australian IP servers, to access geo-restricted content. You’re also guaranteed a fast connection with NordVPN’s network, even if you take advantage of their unique double encrypted servers.

A few of NordVPN’s best features include an independently-verified zero-logging policy that covers everything from traffic to bandwidth, IP addresses, and time stamps; powerful censorship-busting features that break through harsh government filters like those in China; multi-hop encryption for the ultimate privacy at the expense of some speed; ready Netflix access worldwide.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is an affordable VPN which drastically improves the security of your browser. Rather than simply relying on HTTPS for bare-bones protections, you’ll enjoy the benefits of NSA-grade 256-AES-GCM encryption. This makes your data stream utterly indecipherable by third parties, and allows you to get past censorship and surveillance with ease.

Additionally, Surfshark’s server network is quite notable, as it is entirely RAM-based, and thus incapable of storing your usage metadata. That means you can connect to any of Surfshark’s 800+ servers across 50 countries to spoof your IP and unblock sites without ever leaving a trace behind. And if the site you’re accessing has a VPN-blocker in place, your app will fire up Camouflage, an obfuscation method which disguises your encrypted traffic as ordinary traffic.

There are never any logs kept by Surfshark per their policy, and they even accept Bitcoin payments for anyone who wants to truly divorce their identity from their activity online.

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN focuses on delivering incredible speeds to users around the world. Encryption often slows down VPN connections, and having servers located far from your home can increase lag. That makes low-latency performance especially important if you’re looking for a Diablo 3 game VPN. With ExpressVPN, both of those issues are minimized thanks to blazing fast hardware and a server network distributed across the globe. When coupled with unlimited bandwidth and no speed caps or throttling, you’ve got an incredible recipe for a strong and reliable VPN.

Other features from ExpressVPN include easy to use custom apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and more; great access to Netflix, even where other providers are completely blocked; 3,000+ servers in 94 countries worldwide; DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch; powerful censorship-busting capabilities that even China’s Great Firewall can’t stop.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. IPVanish

Stopping censorship and providing user security are two of IPVanish’s biggest features. The service works to protect your privacy by delivering 256-bit AES encryption with all of its 1,300 servers in 60 different countries, adding in a thorough zero traffic logging policy to boot. You’ll always be able to find a reliable, fast connection with IPVanish, and with over 40,000 IP addresses to use, you’ll be able to bypass censorship filters and firewalls with ease.

IPVanish also comes with the following features:

• Incredibly easy to use software for PC, laptops, smartphones, Chromebooks, and tablets.
• Unlimited bandwidth, no speed caps, and no restrictions on P2P or torrent traffic.
• Secure, fast, and anonymous downloads ideal for torrent and Kodi users.

Read our full IPVanish review.

Conclusion

So now you should have everything you need to understand HTTPS explained in full, including the https meaning and how to use it. These days, it’s more common than not to see websites displaying that little “s” in their URL bar, so keep a sharp eye out for sites that don’t. In conjunction with safe browsing habits, you can further bolster your privacy and security online with a VPN; we’ve recommended three of the best on the market so you don’t have to spend ages shopping around. If you’re looking for additional privacy when downloading files, consider checking out Usenet VPN providers for enhanced security and anonymity.

Got any questions about HTTPS explained, VPNs or any other security-related topic? Leave us a comment below!

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Geoffrey Walters

Geoff is a content marketing consultant based in Berlin, Germany. He specialises in producing high-quality informational content in technical niches such as hardware and Internet privacy. Prior to moving into the content marketing space, Geoff studied languages at Cambridge University and was on the founding team of se

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