Redirect HTTP to HTTPS automatically

HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of the standard HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) used for transmitting data on the internet. It provides an encrypted connection between a website and a user’s browser to protect sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, from being intercepted and read by malicious actors.

Why we need https

How https works?

When a user connects to a website over HTTPS, it works as follow:

1. The user’s browser send requests for a secure connection to the website’s server.
2. The website’s server sends back its SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate, which includes its public key.
3. The user’s browser verifies the certificate against a trusted third-party certificate authority to ensure that the website is legitimate.
4. Once the certificate has been verified, the browser generates a unique symmetric key that will be used to encrypt all data transmitted between the browser and the server.
5. The browser then sends the symmetric key to the server, encrypted with the server’s public key.
6. From this point on, all data transmitted between the browser and the server is encrypted and decrypted using the symmetric key.

The use of HTTPS provides a secure and encrypted connection that protects sensitive information from being intercepted and read by malicious actors. This is particularly important for e-commerce websites, financial institutions, and any other website that handles sensitive information.

How to redirect HTTP to HTTPS automatically

There are several ways to redirect your website from HTTP to HTTPS automatically:

1. Using .htaccess in Apache:

If your website is running on an Apache web server, you can use the .htaccess file to redirect HTTP to HTTPS. Here’s an example of what the code would look like:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

2. Using IIS:

If your website is running on an IIS web server, you can use the URL Rewrite module to redirect HTTP to HTTPS. Here’s an example of what the code would look like:

<rule name="HTTP to HTTPS redirect" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="(.*)" />
<conditions>
<add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="off" ignoreCase="true" />
</conditions>
<action type="Redirect" redirectType="Permanent" url="https://{HTTP_HOST}/{R:1}" />
</rule>

3. Using a plugin:

If your website is running on  WordPress, you can also use a plugin to redirect HTTP to HTTPS. You can use Really Simple SSL and WP Force SSL plugins. Simply install the plugin, activate it, and follow the instructions to redirect your website.

If you have any issues with redirecting your website to HTTPS or want to hire an expert, You can hire us to fix SSL issues or HTTPS redirections.