As organizations shift toward cloud-first and API-centric infrastructure, secure web browsing and HTTPS encryption must remain top priorities. HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, continues to serve as the backbone of encrypted web communications between web browsers and web servers. The HTTPS protocol builds upon the standard HTTP by adding a crucial security layer through TLS encryption.

Despite widespread adoption, many implementations remain flawed. Misconfigurations,expired certificates, and deprecated protocols create openings for attackers. Here’s what you need to know about HTTPS and ensuring confidentiality, authenticity, and data integrity across every digital interaction.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS is the secure version of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). It encrypts data in transit between a web browser and a web server using Transport Layer Security (TLS), protecting data from interception, tampering, or spoofing during transmission.

When a user connects to a secure website, their web browser initiates a TLS handshake with the web server to verify the server’s identity and negotiate encryption parameters. During this process, the web server presents its SSL certificate, which contains the site’s public key and is signed with a digital signature. The web browser uses this digital certificate to establish a secure connection, typically over port 443, while unsecured HTTP traffic uses port 80.

The TLS handshake establishes session keys and determines the appropriate cipher suite for encryption. This process is fundamental to how HTTPS prevents man-in-the-middle attacks, session hijacking, and unauthorized data manipulation. The private key, securely stored on the web server, works in conjunction with the public key to create an encrypted tunnel for data transmission.

Why HTTPS still matters

HTTPS remains crucial for several reasons:

• Zero Trust architectures rely on encrypted communications between internal and external services. HTTPS enables mutual trust even within segmented networks, with TLS/SSL certificates providing the foundation for secure service-to-service communication.
• API ecosystems—which underpin mobile apps and software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms—require secure transmission channels to prevent data interception. Modern content delivery networks depend on SSL certificates to ensure encrypted data transfer across the global infrastructure.
• Remote and hybrid workforces access corporate systems over untrusted networks. HTTPS helps safeguard that traffic through robust website authentication mechanisms and digital certificates that verify server identity.
• Advanced phishing tactics now mimic legitimate encrypted websites. Valid TLS certificates and proper domain validation help users distinguish genuine sites from spoofed versions. However, attackers can obtain SSL certificates for deceptive domains, making organization validation and extended validation certificates increasingly important for high-security applications.
• Regulations such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and the European Union’s GDPR mandate suggest encryption of data in transit.

These considerations make HTTPS benefits undeniable for any organization transmitting data, whether public or private.

Common misconceptions about HTTPS

Even with widespread adoption, several persistent myths still cloud discussions around HTTPS:

“I don’t collect sensitive data, so I don’t need HTTPS.” Seemingly low-risk data like browsing patterns can be used for surveillance, ad injection, or fingerprinting if left unencrypted.

“HTTPS is always secure.” Only if correctly configured.Weak ciphers, expired certificates, and insecure TLS versions leave encrypted connections vulnerable. The strength of the cipher suite directly impacts the security of the encrypted session.

“HTTPS guarantees trust.” Not entirely. Attackers can obtain valid SSL certificates for deceptive domains. Verifying the full TLS certificate chain and domain ownership remains necessary. Extended validation certificates provide additional verification but require more rigorous identity checks during the certificate issuance process.

“SSL and HTTPS are the same thing.” No. HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP and is not the same thing as the SSL protocol. HTTPS relies on the encryption protocol Transport Layer Security (TLS), which was formerly known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Modern implementations use TLS rather than the deprecated SSL protocol, though the terms SSL certificates and TLS/SSL certificates are often used interchangeably.

Emerging threats to HTTPS traffic

Threat actors continue finding ways to exploit encrypted communications. Among the key threats:

• SSL stripping attacks downgrade HTTPS connections to plaintext HTTP by intercepting the initial connection request before the web browser can establish a secure session.
• Certificate spoofing allows attackers to impersonate legitimate services using fraudulent digital certificates, bypassing standard website authentication mechanisms.
• TLS downgrade attacks (such as the POODLE attack) force connections to use obsolete encryption methods by manipulating the cipher suite negotiation process.
• Misissued digital certificates and weak Certificate Authority (CA) practices have led to compromises, including at major trust providers. These incidents highlight the importance of proper certificate validation and monitoring.

SecurityScorecard’s scoring framework identifiesthese risks—flagging improper TLS versions and expired certificates.

HTTPS and supply chain exposure

Misconfigured HTTPS in a vendor’s environment doesn’t just affect them; it can expose your users to credential theft, redirect attacks, and malware injection. As organizations depend more on third-party SaaS platforms, secure HTTPS implementation must extend across thesupply chain.

SecurityScorecard continuously scans web application traffic—including HTTPS encryption configurations—for millions of entities. This visibility helps identify vendors with unsafe or outdated encryption practices. When vendors mismanage their SSL certificate lifecycle, use weak cipher suites, or fail to properly configure their TLS/SSL certificates, your users inherit the risk. That’s where external visibility becomes essential.

**Best practices for HTTPS configuration **

Secure HTTPS deployment requires careful planning and ongoing management. Key recommendations include:

• Use TLS 1.3, which improves both security and performance while providing stronger cipher suite options.
• Disable older protocols, including the deprecated SSL protocol, TLS 1.0, and TLS 1.1. Ensure your web server configuration only accepts modern security protocols.
• Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to enforce secure connections and prevent downgrade attacks. This helps ensure web browsers always connect via port 443 rather than unsecured port 80.
• Monitor SSL certificates for expiration and renew proactively using automated tools. Digital certificate management becomes critical as organizations scale their online presence.
• Use extended validation certificates to increase user confidence, particularly for sensitive services. These digital certificates provide the highest level of website authentication and organization validation.
• ImplementContent Security Policies (CSPs) to mitigate XSS threats even within encrypted sessions.
• Audit your cipher suite configuration regularly to ensure you’re using strong encryption algorithms that align with current security standards.

These controls are especially critical in regulated environments, where failure to maintain strong encryption can result in non-compliance penalties and breach exposure.

Executive summary

Organizations that treat HTTPS as a living, monitored system rather than a one-time setup are better prepared for web-layer threats. While adoption is widespread, misconfigurations, weak implementations, and expired SSL certificates continue to expose organizations to preventable risk.

As hackers increasingly leverage third-party vulnerabilities to conduct cyber-operations, organizations must go beyond enabling HTTPS—they must implement and monitor it correctly. This includes proper management of digital certificates, regular cipher suite updates, and comprehensive monitoring of TLS/SSL certificate chains across their entire digital ecosystem.

SecurityScorecard equips security teams with the tools to evaluate and monitor HTTPS implementations not only internally, but across vendor ecosystems. With continuous scanning and actionable insights, teams can identify weak points before attackers do, ensuring that HTTPS and data integrity remain pillars of your risk posture.

Transform third-party risk into a supply chain resilience

With SecurityScorecard’s Supply Chain Detection and Response (SCDR), gain actionable insights into your vendors’ security postures. Our platform empowers you to make informed decisions, ensuring compliance and strengthening your supply chain’s cybersecurity.