HTTPS Everywhere is an extension for the Chrome, Firefox and Opera ;;;; browser, which ensures that your connection to certain websites* is accomplished over secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS).Developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and The Tor Project, it works quietly in the background with minimal setup required.
HTTPS Everywhere will automatically switch thousands of websites from insecure "HTTP" to secure "HTTPS". The extension can protect you against numerous forms of surveillance and account hijacking, and some forms of censorship.
In theory HTTPS Everywhere should work exceptionally well, but this isn't the case for all websites. It only works for those websites which support encrypted communication but do not have it enabled by default. This is achieved by rewriting the requests to these web locations so that the connection is done in a secure manner.
Overall, HTTPS Everywhere works automatically in the background, and doesn't interrupt you to make any adjustments. The HTTPS Everywhere extension increases your security during your browsing sessions, but it isn't perfect as not all websites are supported.
In summary, while newer browsers have built-in HTTPS support, HTTPS Everywhere still offers additional configuration options and security features for a safer browsing experience.
*Not all websites are supported.
Quick overview:
- Automatic HTTPS: Switches sites to use a secure connection if available.
- Ease of Use: Simple to install and operates in the background without needing constant attention.
- Customizable: Allows exceptions for sites with HTTPS issues.
- Privacy and Security Boost: Enhances safety by encrypting your data and verifying website authenticity.
- Browser Integration: Modern browsers like Chrome and Firefox now include similar HTTPS-only features, reducing the need for this extension.