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HTTPS Everywhere Extension Secures the Websites you Visit
Nowadays, all major browsers enforce HTTPS over HTTP
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Browser security is very important nowadays since there are manymalware programsthat can infect your computer through a poorly secured browser.
In order to prevent such unpleasant situations, you should use additional tools to enhance yourbrowser’s security level.
There are many reliableantivirus programs for browsersthat you can choose from. However, if you prefer a simple solution, you can also install a security extension on your browser.
What is HTTPS Everywhere?
HTTPS Everywhere is an extension that automatically switches the website that you’re visiting from http to the more secure https.
In this manner, the extension protects you against surveillance and account hijacking attempts as well as some censorship.
HTTPS Everywhere encrypts your connection with many major websites, better securing your browsing experience, since there are many encrypted pages that link to unencrypted websites.
The HTTPS Everywhere extension uses special algorithms to rewrite the requests to these sites to HTTPS.
The Opera One browser already includes prevention mechanisms and informs you about unsafe pages by comparing the page to a database of known phishing and malware websites.
When you click on the lock in the address bar, Opera One will display the certificate’s issuer, kind of certificate, and if the issuer is publicly recognized and legitimate. Plus, it comes with a native AI.
Opera One
When you visit an HTTPS website, it will communicate with your browser sending its SSL/TLS certificate for identification.
Practically, it shows itspassportto validate its authority. The browser verifies the information and acknowledges (or not) the data.
An HTTPS system also encrypts all the data that is transferred between the browser and the website.
This is a measure to protect the exchange of information that this way, it won’t be intercepted by any third parties.
Should I install HTTPS Everywhere?
HTTPS Everywhere is very useful because, as we’ve mentioned above, it automatically transforms any HTTP website into HTTPS.
However, this extension may cause websites to look weird or even break. If ashieldbutton appears in the address bar, this means that Chrome has blocked the insecure portions of the page.
Sometimes, pages will look weird with their insecure portions removed. If this happens, you can disable the extension for that site using the button in the right-hand corner of the address bar.
But this reduces your security and privacy. As you can see in the picture below, HTTPS Everywhere doesn’t display images correctly.
HTTPS Everywhere is the result of joint collaboration between The Tor Project and theElectronic Frontier Foundation, the same NGO that criticized Microsoft’s aggressive upgrade practices and released thePrivacy Badger 2.0extension.
HTTPS Everywhere for Chrome is still a work in progress, but the extension is reliable and stable enough for everyday usage.
So, should you install HTTPS Everywhere? That’s really up to you but we would go anytime with security over graphic details.
However, most browsers nowadays enforce the use of HTTPS so you don’t really need this add-on for them.
HTTPS Everywhere will be deprecated this year because its functions have become redundant.
You candownload HTTPS Everywherefrom the Google Web Store. You can still use HTTPS Everywhere for Firefox, Opera One, and Safari.
Do you still need HTTPS Everywhere in Firefox?
Since Firefox 83, Mozilla introduced an HTTPS-Only Mode in the browser so, just as we mentioned earlier, it enforces the use of HTTPS.
Still, HTTPS Everywhere has some other useful functions like making exempts permanently, the ability to add user-based rules, and more.
Electronic Frontier Foundation recommends turning the EASE mode Off and leaving the HTTPS-Only Mode from Firefox on.
This way, you will still be able to use the features of the extension and avoid any conflicts.
That being said, you may be also interested in thebest anti-exploit software to protect your browser.
For any questions or ideas, you may also contact us through the comments section below.
More about the topics:browser extension,Cybersecurity
Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.
She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.
Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.
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Madalina Dinita
Networking & Security Specialist
Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.
