http .vs https

[hugme]

ok, so I am getting email about how a site is secure if the url starts with https instead of http

for those of you who don't know:

when you type a site into your browser that begins with https it has NOTHING TO DO WITH SECURITY!!!! you are telling th browser to connect to port 443 instead of port 80 that is ALL you are doing, nothing more.

Now usually port 443 is used for encrypted sites but it doesn't have to be, you can put an unencrypted web site or an ftp site on the port just as easily.

Now, knowing this it is VITAL that you look in the bottom right (usually it's there) corner of your page for a picture of a lock. click on that and you will get the security information about your page. Or you can just look at it. if it's locked, then the page is encrypted (but you don't know how strongly) if it's unlocked the paged is not encrypted... easy as that.

one more time.... https does NOT mean a page is encrypted, it only means it's connecting on port 443 instead of 80.

this will be on the test... any questions

Comments

[flyswatter.livejournal.com]

Heck, I haven't even made it to the written test. I flunked the eye exam.

[asbrand.livejournal.com]

Yup...knew that. ;-)



-Az