Http to Https Secure Connection Redirection Via Various Ways

Now a days security is very important for everyone in every way. In this era of article, we learn about Http to https secure connection. But you know for securing your data, first you have to secure your website connection. EIG and NON EIG hosting services offers free letsEncrypt SSL certificate to secure website with https://. Which is by converting or redirecting your website URL’s from http:// to https://?

Before you have to know about how to redirect url from http to https? Also, how to secure your website connection from third party or hackers? Before, we need to study some basics of Http and https.

HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol

HTTP is a client-server protocol that allows clients to request a web page from a web server. It is an application-level protocol widely used on the internet regularly.

Clients use usually a web browser when a user wants to access a web page. A browser sends an HTTP request message to the webserver using an internet connection. The server responds with the request web page to the web browser.

Client and web server use request-response method to communicate with each other. At the time of request and response connection acknowledgment also send at both the end.

HTTPS – Secure Hyper Text Transfer Protocol

HTTPS ‘s’ is extension stands for security to the HTTP. That allows the secure exchange of files on the world wide web.  For a given document https is an alternative to another well-known security protocol SSL.

A major difference is that https allows the client to send a certificate to authenticate the users were using an SSL certificate. Only the server can be authenticated. The https is more likely to be used in a situation where the server represents a bank and requests authentication from the user. That is more secure than a user name and password.

An https does not use only a single encryption system but it does support the Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) public key infrastructure encryption system. The encryption and decryption happened at both the end source and destination with help of secure key. Https work at an even higher level of HTTP application. Both (SSL and HTTPS) are security protocol can be used by browser user but the only one can be used with a given document.

SSL-secured websites begin with https:// and you can see a green lock icon or green address bar if the connection is securely established. If there is no green lock icon or green address bar that means your site is not secure and it is with Http URL.

Protect your connection with http to https in two ways:

1. By SSL certificate install
2. By using a .htaccess file

What is an SSL Certificate? How to install an SSL certificate? http to https secure connection –

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard security protocol for establishing a secure connection between the server and the user which is a browser.

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Certificate ensures secure changes of data across the server and client application using a strong encryption standard or digital signature. One has to install an SSL certificate or a code signing certificate.

SSL certificate is renewed in every three months automatically to make security strong and it’s hard to hack it for hackers.

Follow steps for installation of SSL certificate on your website from cPanel:

• Login to your Cpanel .
• When you get login into your cPanel find security section and click on “lets encrypt ssl”.
• Select your domain name on which you want to install SSL certificate.
• Click on issue for installation.

Note: Do not make changes in settings you can directly click on issue button to install ssl certificate.

Follow screenshot images for easy steps to install SSL certificate in cPanel,

What is .htaccess? How to secure cPanel URL’s via .htaccess?

The .htaccess that affects how a webserver responds to various requests, .htaccess file is a configuration file . It is supported by several webservers; including the popular Apache webserver on web hosting service providers.

Why Redirect HTTP to HTTPS using .htaccess file

Communications between the website and your browser are not encrypted. HTTPS used to encrypt and decrypt to protect highly confidential online transactions. Online transactions like banking and online shopping order forms. So, it’s always better to redirect all http connections to https using .htaccess file.

• Data integrity and security: Without permission third party cannot do any modification in data. Go to the intended user and with more confidential and secure connection.
• Encryption: It plays a very vital role. Encryption keep over data secure.
• Authentication: It helps to gives permissions to users communicate at source and destination. With the intended website it builds trust which helps to increase business benefits.

SEO benefits of using HTTPS:

• Increased rankings: The use of https, it slightly help to improve ranking.
• Referral Data: Google Analytics becomes even more useful with HTTPS.
• Security and Privacy: Like any good security system, HTTPS provide security at both side client and server and helps to users feel safe. The security helps you avoid monetary damages and data hacking as well as damage to your site’s authority.

Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS secure connection without WWW

You need .htaccess files to handle redirection to http to https. If there is need to create .htaccess files you can use your cPanel -> file manager.

To automatically redirect your page http to https you need to add the following code in your .htaccess files.

Code to redirect http to https secure connection without www

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off

RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS  secure connection with WWW

Following code, you need to add in your .htaccess files to redirect page HTTP to HTTPS redirect htaccess code with www.

Code to HTTP to HTTPS  redirect htaccess with www

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC]

RewriteRule ^ https://www.%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

RewriteCond %{HTTP:X-Forwarded-Proto} !https

RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off

RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

How 301 redirection differ from 302 redirection

301 = It is for permanent redirection. It means that page has permanently moved to new location. To move website or page permanently for that 301 redirect sends the message to search engines.

302 = It is for temporary redirection. If you want to send user to a new page or site for temporary period, you would use this type of redirect.

If there is already an existing .htaccess file:

• No need to make double copy of RewriteEngine
• If there is already first line existing i.e. RewriteEngine On then RewriteCond and RewriteRule should immediately follow that.

If you want to keep your website secure then you should use these codes to convert HTTP to HTTPS.

With the help of HTTPS connection, all communications between client and server are securely encrypted and decrypted using key. If third party tries to break or hack the connection they would not be able to decrypt your data which passes between client and server.

So it’s always better to .htaccess redirect HTTP to HTTPS or to install SSL certificate to change your connection HTTP which is unsecure to secure connection that is HTTPS.

Conclusion of http to https secure connection redirection:

As we see the safe or secure connection is very important for our website. By default, our website is in Http connection which is not secure. We can make secure by installing SSL certificate which converts all links and connection URL’s Http to https in a secure connection. And another way is by .htaccess file in which by three lines of code you can secure your website. You can understand now how to secure your website urls from http to https.

As a result, HTTPS is far more secure than HTTP.