NY Senator http's 'en welcome mat for potential hemp farmers'

by gleiseo3 on 2012-03-09 10:56:31

New York Senator: "No Welcome Mat for Potential Hackers"

By Michelle Castillo | February 28, 2011 | + Tweet

Getty Identity theft and security breaches are a top concern for New York Senator Charles Schumer, who appealed to large online companies like Amazon and Twitter to switch to a more secure protocol. The Democrat, speaking at a press conference in a New York City coffee bar, Mulberry Street Bagels, said that unsecured Wi-Fi access points help hackers obtain other people's personal information. To him, the solution is clear: switch to secure HTTPS web addresses instead of using standard HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

"The quickest and easiest way to shut down this one-stop shop for identity theft is for major websites to switch to secure HTTPS web addresses instead of the less secure HTTP protocol," Schumer said according to Reuters, calling HTTP "a welcome mat for potential hackers." With programs like Firesheep making it easier to access another computer's private information from unsecured connections, it’s easy to steal passwords and credit card information. Schumer pointed out that while the number of people using public Wi-Fi is growing, website operators are slow to address the HTTP issue.

HTTPS uses a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to hide your personal data, so most businesses use the protocol to protect credit card numbers when people buy goods online. However, there’s no requirement to use HTTPS over HTTP, and it can be beneficial on login screens or other pages where you input personal information. Unfortunately, HTTPS may slow down performance when purchasing items online, but when your online security is at stake, it might be worth it.