If you've ever seen the green padlock icon in your browser's address bar, you probably know that it means your connection to the website is secure. But what does that actually mean? That's where HTTPS Everywhere comes in.
HTTPS Everywhere is a web browser extension that automatically encrypts your connection with a website whenever possible. This ensures that any data you send or receive from that site is protected from prying eyes.
When you visit a website, your browser sends a request for information to the server where the site is hosted. With HTTPS Everywhere, that request and all subsequent data exchanged between your browser and the server are encrypted using SSL/TLS technology. This makes it harder for hackers to intercept your data and steal sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for communicating between web servers and browsers. However, when data is transmitted over HTTP, it is sent in plain text, which means it can be easily intercepted and read by anyone who has access to the network between you and the server.
HTTPS (HTTP Secure) uses an SSL/TLS security certificate to encrypt data being transmitted over the network. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to intercept or tamper with your data.
Using HTTPS Everywhere helps protect your online privacy by making sure your connections are encrypted whenever possible. It also helps prevent a range of online threats including man-in-the-middle attacks, cross-site scripting attacks, and session hijacking.
HTTPS Everywhere is available as a free browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and other popular web browsers. Simply download and install the extension from your browser's extension marketplace.
Many popular websites, including Google, Facebook, and Twitter, support HTTPS Everywhere. However, not all websites have implemented HTTPS encryption. You can check whether a site supports HTTPS by looking for the padlock icon in the address bar or by using a tool like the EFF's HTTPS Everywhere Observatory.
