# R9 | anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5 | run 1

## Prompt

Explain the practical difference between HTTP and HTTPS for a website owner, and cite a source.

## Response

HTTPS is HTTP wrapped in encryption (TLS), making it fundamentally more secure for website owners and visitors. The key practical differences affect security, trustworthiness, user experience, and search rankings.

## Security and Data Protection

HTTPS encrypts all data in transit—requests, responses, headers, cookies, and URL paths—so attackers cannot read or modify traffic. [cloudflare.com](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/why-use-https/) Without encryption, HTTP transmits everything in plaintext, allowing anyone on the network (ISPs, Wi-Fi operators, attackers) to intercept passwords, payment information, and personal data. HTTPS also prevents man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers inject malware or ads into responses. [letsencrypt.org](https://letsencrypt.org/docs/why-all-https/)

## Authentication and Trust

HTTPS requires a digital certificate signed by a trusted Certificate Authority, proving your website is legitimate. [hostadvice.com](https://hostadvice.com/blog/web-hosting/security/http-vs-https/) Browsers verify this certificate automatically, showing visitors a padlock icon that signals safety. HTTP provides no verification, leaving visitors vulnerable to connecting to fake or imposter sites. This trust signal directly influences user confidence and conversion rates.

## Browser and Search Ranking Impact

Modern browsers mark HTTP sites as "Not Secure" in the address bar, actively deterring visitors. [cloudflare.com](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/why-use-https/) Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal, meaning HTTPS sites receive better search visibility than HTTP equivalents. Additionally, modern browser features—geolocation, push notifications, service workers for progressive web apps—require HTTPS to function. [100plus.tools](https://100plus.tools/comparisons/http-vs-https)

## Bottom Line

For any public-facing website, HTTPS is now mandatory. Free certificates from Let's Encrypt eliminated cost barriers in 2015, making HTTPS accessible to all website owners. [100plus.tools](https://100plus.tools/comparisons/http-vs-https) HTTP is acceptable only for local development or private internal networks.

What specific security concerns do you have about implementing HTTPS on your website?
