Access Twitter on an Encrypted HTTPS Connection
It seems that more and more companies are turning to HTTPS in order to provide their users with a safer experience. Google for example uses an encrypted HTTPS connection for several of its online services (Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Sites, Gmail). The latest to make HTTPS the norm is Picasa Web Albums; as of this February, Picasa Web Albums uses HTTPS by default.
Popular social networking site Facebook did not make HTTPS the default connection, but it is experimenting with HTTPS. Facebook users can check the “Browse Facebook on a secure connection (HTTPS) whenever possible" option from the “Account Security” section on the Account Settings page and Facebook will try to navigate on an HTTPS encrypted connection.
The problem is that you can’t browse on HTTPS all the time and you will be asked to switch back to HTTP because HTTPS is not supported. The more annoying problem is that when you are told that HTTPS is not supported and you choose to switch to a regular HTTP connection, the “Browse Facebook on a secure connection (HTTPS) whenever possible” option is disabled.
Popular social networking and microblogging site Twitter is experimenting with HTTPS as well. In the past users who wanted to browse on an HTTPS connection needed only go to https://twitter.com. Twitter made things simpler yesterday by adding a new option on the account settings page – Always use HTTPS.
“Using HTTPS for your favorite Internet services is particularly important when using them over unsecured WiFi connections. This will improve the security of your account and better protect your information if you’re using Twitter over an unsecured Internet connection, like a public WiFi network, where someone may be able to eavesdrop on your site activity. In the future, we hope to make HTTPS the default setting,” explained Carolyn Penner, Twitter Communications.
Popular social networking site Facebook did not make HTTPS the default connection, but it is experimenting with HTTPS. Facebook users can check the “Browse Facebook on a secure connection (HTTPS) whenever possible" option from the “Account Security” section on the Account Settings page and Facebook will try to navigate on an HTTPS encrypted connection.
The problem is that you can’t browse on HTTPS all the time and you will be asked to switch back to HTTP because HTTPS is not supported. The more annoying problem is that when you are told that HTTPS is not supported and you choose to switch to a regular HTTP connection, the “Browse Facebook on a secure connection (HTTPS) whenever possible” option is disabled.
Popular social networking and microblogging site Twitter is experimenting with HTTPS as well. In the past users who wanted to browse on an HTTPS connection needed only go to https://twitter.com. Twitter made things simpler yesterday by adding a new option on the account settings page – Always use HTTPS.
“Using HTTPS for your favorite Internet services is particularly important when using them over unsecured WiFi connections. This will improve the security of your account and better protect your information if you’re using Twitter over an unsecured Internet connection, like a public WiFi network, where someone may be able to eavesdrop on your site activity. In the future, we hope to make HTTPS the default setting,” explained Carolyn Penner, Twitter Communications.
