What is HTTP?
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundational protocol used to transfer data between a browser and a server. However, it lacks encryption, which makes it highly insecure. Any data transmitted over HTTP can be intercepted and read by attackers in a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack.
For example:
- When you enter sensitive information, like login credentials, into an HTTP website, anyone intercepting the traffic can see this data in plain text. This poses a major security risk for users.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) solves this issue by introducing an SSL/TLS layer to encrypt the communication between the browser and the server.
- SSL/TLS ensures that data transmitted between the client and server is encrypted, preventing it from being easily intercepted or tampered with.
The Limitation of HTTPS
While HTTPS is a significant improvement over HTTP but it is not foolproof. The encryption layer provided by SSL/TLS ends at the server level, meaning:
Once the data reaches the server, it is decrypted and stored in plaintext.
Developers or administrators who have access to the server or database can view this data.
This limitation exposes sensitive user data if the server is compromised, or if the developers or administrators misuse their access.
The Next Step: End-to-End Encryption
So, what can we do if we want the data from the sender to be visible only to the recipient, ensuring that even the server cannot access it? For instance, if Alice sends a message to Bob, how can we ensure it gets decrypted only on Bob's device?
We can achieve this with end-to-end encryption (E2EE). But what exactly is it? Let’s dive into it in the next article! 😃