What is HTTPS?
By Mark Boreland ·
In short
- HTTPS is the encrypted version of the connection between a browser and a website.
- It stops anyone on the network from reading or tampering with the file in transit.
- Browsers now flag plain HTTP pages as not secure, which looks alarming on a link you sent.
HTTPS is HTTP with encryption layered on top. When a browser loads a page over HTTPS, the data between the visitor and the server is scrambled so that nobody sitting on the same coffee-shop network can read it or quietly alter it. The padlock in the address bar is the browser confirming that encryption is in place and that the certificate matches the domain.
Every NudgeHost link is HTTPS by default, with no setting to toggle and nothing to install. This matters more than it sounds, because modern browsers actively label plain HTTP pages as not secure, and a recruiter or client who sees that warning on a link you sent will hesitate before clicking. Serving a shared document over a secure connection removes that friction. The encryption is handled by what an SSL certificate is, which the host provisions and renews for you.
Security is also why you can share genuinely sensitive material as a link. A contract you host a PDF travels encrypted, and you can layer password protection on top when the contents warrant it. Hosting is free to begin with, and the paid tier adds custom domains that keep the same automatic HTTPS on your own address. The takeaway is that secure delivery is the default here, not an upgrade.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy an SSL certificate?
No. NudgeHost provisions and renews the certificate automatically, including on custom domains, so every link is HTTPS without any work from you.
Is HTTPS enough to keep a file private?
HTTPS protects the file in transit. To control who can open it, add password protection or set the link to expire.
Why does my browser say a link is not secure?
That warning appears on plain HTTP pages. A NudgeHost link is always HTTPS, so it will not trigger the warning.
Related tools
Other things you can do on NudgeHost.
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