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Is HTTPS Secure Enough to Protect your Privacy?

Written by Jane Christen, blogger.

If you’re under the impression that HTTPS is secure enough to protect your online privacy, then you’re totally wrong. HTTPS is very important for your online security, but it is just a small piece of the crypto puzzle.

You still need to make sure that your internet traffic remains end-to-end encrypted. The data flowing from your browser to the website is not the only way a cybercriminal can get a hold of your data. There are other methods like MIME mis-matches, cross-site scripting, clickjacking, and others.

In this guide, we’ll be discussing some of the limitations of HTTPS and will also share what else is needed to make your privacy truly secure.

HTTPS Limitations

It is great to see many websites have gone from being unencrypted to having a green lock at the top of the page by adding HTTPS to their URL. However, HTTPS has its limitations as well.

Hackers can easily trick visitors into believing that a website is secure and then they are able to steal their personal information and credit card details.

HTTPS makes it look like your data is encrypted, but realistically it is not. It leaves out the encryption of data at rest that impacts the security.

The hacker can still make an attempt to hack your data at three points of processing i.e. the app, load balancer, and the server. Even if you use SSL encryption along with HTTPS, it’s still not secure because it must be implemented at the entire website. Even if a single page or some content is missed, it will create a security loophole.

If you fail to use it on your entire website, cybercriminals will see the opening and will get every chance to steal customer data.

What Else is Needed to Protect your Privacy?

If you want to stay protected over the internet, you should use online privacy tips that I have highlighted below:

1. Use a VPN

Whenever you browse the web either through your computer or mobile, you should always use a Virtual Private Network. It is a tool that encrypts your internet traffic and keeps your device protected against malware and viruses.

It offers complete end-to-end encryption that HTTPS fails to offer. Further, you can change your original IP address and connect to any server to access any content from around the world.

You can try NordVPN 30-day trial for free for a starter as it offers the strongest encryption among the VPN market.

2. Use 2FA

You can also use 2 Factor Authentication whenever you register to a website in order to secure your account information. It creates an additional layer of security. You can decide whether it be a code or a secret question.

3. Use a Strong Password

Creating a unique and strong password minimises your chances for your account to be hacked. If you’re running a website, make sure you use a strong password for WordPress.

It is recommended to use at least 20 characters when creating a password and it must include special characters and numeric.

You shouldn’t be using an easy set of passwords like the name of your city, date of birth, or your name.

4. Make Sure Software are Updated

If you’re running a WordPress website, make sure all your plugins are updated or there may be vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit.

It is advisable to update every software that is available on your computer as well because when a software becomes outdated, it creates a security loophole which becomes an easy target for hackers.

Try using premium plugins even though free plugins are good to use. The reason is because premium plugins have fewer vulnerabilities.

[Image – Photo by Ján Vlačuha on Unsplash]

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