| http is hyper text transfer protocol which is responsible | | | | ensures reasonable protection from eavesdroppers |
| for transmitting and receiving information across the | | | | and (provided it is implemented properly and the top |
| Internet where as https is secure http, which is used | | | | level certification authorities do their job properly) |
| exchanging confidential information with a server, | | | | man-in-the-middle attacks. |
| which needs to be secured in order to prevent | | | | The default TCP port of an https: URL is 443 (for |
| unauthorized access. | | | | unsecured HTTP, the default is 80). To prepare a |
| HTTP is Hyper Text Transport Protocol and is | | | | web-server for accepting https connections the |
| transmitted over the wire via PORT 80(TCP). You | | | | administrator must create a public key certificate for |
| normally use HTTP when you are browsing the web, | | | | the web-server. These certificates can be created for |
| it's not secure, and so someone can eavesdrop on the | | | | Linux based servers with tools such as Open SSL's |
| conversation between your computer and the web | | | | ssl or SuSE's gensslcert. This certificate must be |
| server. HTTP can support the client asking for a | | | | signed by a certificate authority of one form or |
| particular file to be sent only if it has been updated | | | | another, who certifies that the certificate holder is who |
| after a certain date and time. This would be used if the | | | | they say they are. Web browsers are generally |
| client has already retrieved a copy of a file by that | | | | distributed with the signing certificates of major |
| name from that server, but wants to check to see if it | | | | certificate authorities, so that they can verify |
| has been updated since then. The server responds | | | | certificates signed by them. |
| either with the updated file, with a message to say the | | | | Main Features |
| file has not been changed, or with a message that the | | | | Dedicated to HTTP protocol, show a wide range of |
| file no longer exists. | | | | HTTP related information, request and response |
| HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure | | | | header, content, sent and received cookies, stream, |
| Socket Layer or HTTP over SSL) is a Web protocol | | | | query strings, post form values… |
| developed by Netscape and built into its browser that | | | | Request builder, Users can handcraft an HTTP |
| encrypts and decrypts user page requests as well as | | | | request by using the HTTP Request Builder, or they |
| the pages that are returned by the Web server. | | | | can use a drag-and-drop operation to move an |
| HTTPS is really just the use of Netscape's Secure | | | | existing request from the session grid to the Request |
| Socket Layer (SSL) as a sub layer under its regular | | | | Builder to execute it again. |
| HTTP application layering. (HTTPS uses port 443 | | | | Hex Viewer allows users to view and edit binary files |
| instead of HTTP port 80 in its interactions with the | | | | in hexadecimal and textual format. New |
| lower layer, TCP/IP.) SSL uses a 40-bit key size for | | | | Displays Winsock traffic originating from Java applets |
| the RC4 stream encryption algorithm, new-age | | | | and JavaScript embedded in a Web page, displays |
| browsers use 128-bit key size which is more secure | | | | Winsock traffic originating from ActiveX controls and |
| than the former, it is considered an adequate degree | | | | COM objects instanced by an application (Stand-alone |
| of encryption for commercial exchange. HTTPS is | | | | Edition Only) |
| normally used in login pages, shopping/commercial sites. | | | | "Before request and after response" browser cache |
| How it Work | | | | comparisons |
| Https is not a separate protocol, but refers to the | | | | Support HTTPS, show you unencrypted data sent |
| combination of a normal HTTP interaction over an | | | | over HTTPS / SSL connections, HTTPS is available if |
| encrypted Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport | | | | the application uses the Microsoft WININET API (ex. ie, |
| Layer Security (TLS) transport mechanism. This | | | | outlook) or Mozilla NSS API. (ex. |