How does the Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (S-HTTP) differ from HTTPS?

S-HTTP differs from HTTPS as it secures individual messages, while HTTPS creates a secure connection for all transmitted data.

Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (S-HTTP) and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) are both protocols used for secure communication over a computer network. However, they differ in the way they provide security. S-HTTP is designed to secure individual messages by encrypting the data within them. This means that each message sent using S-HTTP is individually protected, and the security measures are applied on a per-message basis. This can be beneficial in situations where only certain parts of the communication need to be secured.

On the other hand, HTTPS creates a secure connection between the client and the server, and all data transmitted over this connection is secured. This is achieved by using Transport Layer Security (TLS) or its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), to provide a secure channel. This means that once a secure connection is established, all data sent between the client and the server is encrypted, regardless of the content of the individual messages. This can provide a higher level of security, as it protects all communication, not just specific messages.

Another key difference between the two protocols is their usage. HTTPS is widely used on the internet for secure communication, especially for transactions involving sensitive data such as credit card information. It is supported by all modern web browsers. S-HTTP, however, is not widely adopted and is used less frequently. This is partly due to the fact that S-HTTP requires more computational resources to secure individual messages, making it less efficient than HTTPS for securing large volumes of data.

In summary, while both S-HTTP and HTTPS are protocols for secure communication, they differ in their approach to providing security. S-HTTP secures individual messages, making it suitable for situations where only specific parts of the communication need to be secured. HTTPS, on the other hand, secures all data transmitted over a secure connection, providing a higher level of security for all communication between the client and the server.