Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and HTTPS

5 minutes 5 Questions

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is an application protocol for exchanging or transferring hypermedia documents, such as HTML, between clients and servers on the internet. It defines how messages and requests are formatted and transmitted, and how web servers and web browsers should respond to va…

Guide to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) are central to data communication on the World Wide Web. They can be described as:

HTTP: An application layer protocol developed by the Web's governing body, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It is used to deliver virtually all files and other data collectively referred to as web content from a web server to a web client, typically a web browser.
HTTPS: A secure version of HTTP, where communications are encrypted by TLS, or transport layer security.

HTTP works as a request-response protocol between a client and server. A client, like a web browser, sends an HTTP request to the server, then the server responds with an HTTP response that includes the status of the request and the requested content.
HTTPS works in the same way as HTTP but it encrypts the data sent and received for increased security.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on HTTP and HTTPS
1. Understand the basic operation of HTTP and HTTPS. Remember that HTTP is unsecured while HTTPS is secured.
2. Be familiar with the concept of http requests and responses.
3. Know that HTTP uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) as the transport protocol.
4. Be aware of the common HTTP methods such as GET (retrieve data), POST (send data), PUT (update data), and DELETE (remove data).
5. Understand that HTTPS is simply the secure version of HTTP, adding an encryption layer to the data communication.
6. Know that the 's' in HTTPS stands for secure, which is made possible by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security)
7. Remember that use of HTTPS is increasingly vital in order to protect confidential data.
8. Revise the common HTTP status codes like 200 (OK), 404 (Not Found), and 500 (Server Error).

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Question 1

Which port number is typically associated with HTTPS traffic?

80 8080 21 443

Correct Answer: 443

The correct answer is 443. Port 443 is the standard port used for HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) traffic. HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP, which encrypts the data transmitted between a web browser and a website, providing a secure connection for sensitive information. Explanation of other options: 80: This is the standard port for HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) traffic, which is the non-secure version of web communication. 8080: This port is commonly used as an alternative for HTTP traffic, often for proxy servers or when running multiple web servers on a single machine. 21: This port is associated with FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and is not related to web traffic.

Question 2

A user is trying to access a website using HTTP and encounters a 'Not Secure' warning in their browser. What would be the best solution to ensure their data privacy?

Access the website using HTTPS Continue accessing the website via HTTP Use a VPN and continue using HTTP Disable browser security settings

Correct Answer: Access the website using HTTPS

To ensure data privacy and communication security, the user should access the website by entering the HTTPS URL or using a secure link. Although a VPN provides some protection, it does not encrypt the data between the user's browser and the web server. Disabling security settings, using incognito mode, and clearing the browser cache will not resolve the issue.

Question 3

A web developer working on a website wants to ensure secure communication between the web server and the user's browser. Which protocol should the developer implement?

FTP HTTPS SFTP HTTP

Correct Answer: HTTPS

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the protocol that should be implemented to ensure secure communication between the web server and the user's browser. HTTPS encrypts the data transmitted between the server and the client, protecting sensitive information from being intercepted by unauthorized parties. It uses SSL/TLS encryption to secure the connection. HTTP, on the other hand, sends data in plain text, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping and tampering. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) are used for file transfers and do not provide the necessary security features for web communication.

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