This information can be sent via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), or HTTPS, which is a combination of HTTP with a secure way of transmitting information. HTTP makes it easy to request and transfer information. It’s what makes our websites load, and allows us to connect with people on social networks. However, the information that is transferred is not transferred securely, meaning that it could be viewed by third parties. If this was the only way of sending information online, it would be a bad idea to bank online, or to purchase anything over the Internet. This is why we use HTTPS to encrypt information when it is sensitive. In order to make use of HTTPS, the relevant website needs to get a secure certificate, which ensures that various details have been verified by a trusted third party.